door behind her.
I somehow managed to go back to sleep after only a few short minutes.
The next morning, I slowly got ready for school, dragging my feet the whole way. No matter what I did, I couldn’t shake the nightmare. It seemed so real, and yet so ridiculous at the same time.
On the way to school, I stopped to get gas in my beat-up blue Jeep. It was old, but it was also free. My dad bought it from a friend of his and spent some money getting it in running shape. The blue paint job was scratched and chipping, but it was mine and that was all I cared about. As I stood there pumping, I suddenly had a strange feeling come over me; like the sensation of being watched. I did a quick glance around but there was no one in sight.
I wish I could say that the feeling was from guys checking me out as I walked from class to class, but sadly that was not the case, but I knew the reason for that. I’m not really bad to look at. I keep my blonde hair clean but simple. I’m a little thin, but I would say I have a cute figure. My complexion is good and the advantage of that is that I don’t really need to wear a lot of makeup. But everyone has their flaws, some more prominent than others. Mine is the fact that my eyes are two totally different colors, a condition known as heterochromia. One eye is green and the other is brown. Sometimes when people are born with this it’s not very noticeable, not so with me. Because my green eye is sea green and my brown eye is almost black, it makes for a strange effect. When I was little I use to think it was cool, but all that changed when I started kindergarten. That’s when the teasing began, and it’s never really let up though I’m almost eighteen. Personally, I think it creeps the guys out, like I have a disease or something. My mom said that if it bothers me that much I should consider getting colored contacts to even them out. But I say, ‘What’s the point in that’. Everyone in this crazy town knows the truth. What good would it really do? Besides, this is who I was born to be. I shouldn’t have to change it just because others react to it. It’s really their problem, not mine, right? I don’t care to be Mrs. Popularity anyway. I have my friends and that’s good enough for me—for now anyway.
That night I sighed in relief and stretched, happy to be finally finished with my homework. I’d been working on it for two straight hours, and my back was killing me. I stood, went to my dresser, pulled out my nightshirt, and stripped my clothes off. That’s when I had the eerie feeling again. I quickly pulled on my nightshirt and went to my window and peered out. My room backs to the forest, as do most houses in my neighborhood, so I’ve never had to worry about being careful when dressing before. But now, for the first time, it felt different. As I stared out passed the black trees I thought I caught a glimpse of movement in the dark. I gasped and ran out of my room and down the stairs to be in the comfort of my parent’s presence. I knew it was ridiculous to act so childish, but the last time I saw that movement was in my nightmare, and the image came flooding back. I purposefully stayed with my parents for the next few hours until bedtime arrived.
As I lay there in bed that evening, tossing and turning, my mind wouldn’t shut off. I started thinking about the nightmare and what I was doing right before I went to sleep. Had I read something scary? Then it dawned on me—I didn’t remember anything about that evening. I didn’t remember coming home from school, or eating supper, or even getting into bed at all. My heart started racing and I felt nauseous. Had it not been a nightmare after all? Had it really happened? And if it had, then what did it mean? Was someone out to get me? No, that was ridiculous. After all, someone had brought me home. The question plaguing my mind was who or what?
My eyes briefly drifted shut. I snapped them open and felt my vision blur. The air in my room suddenly felt thick and musky.
Outside of my window, I heard the howl, the same howl from the night of the full moon. Without further thought, I rose from my bed, exited my room, and walked quietly out the front door, heading straight toward the backyard. It wasn’t something I could control. I tried to stop my feet, but something compelled me forward. My breathing escalated the closer I got to the dark forest. I was terrified and yet I couldn’t seem to stop. Every step brought me closer and closer to whatever was waiting for me.
As I stepped into the forest, something snagged on my nightshirt, tearing it. I barely noticed as I continued to walk. Suddenly, I heard a small scream, and realized it was coming from my own lips as I was swept up and carried off through the trees.
What had a hold of me I couldn’t comprehend. It was a beast of some kind, hairy and big—very big. Was I his dinner? Please, God—no!
Chapter Tw0
Shae
My mom rushed in. “Shae! Shae, honey, are you all right?” Her voice was full of alarm.
I bolted up in bed at the sound of her voice, gasping for breath. “Yes, Mom. I’m okay. Just another nightmare. I’m sorry.”
“Another nightmare?” she asked, leaning over me and pushing my sweaty hair from my forehead. “Is there something that’s bothering you? You’ve never had a problem with nightmares before.”
I sighed and glanced at the window, half expecting to see a large, hairy monster peering in at me. Thank goodness all I saw was the dark night sky. “I know,” I said with a huff as I fixed my gaze back on my mom. “Nothing’s bothering me, Mom. At least nothing that I’m aware of. I’m sorry I woke you. Please go back to bed. I’ll be fine, really.”
She hesitated for a moment, and she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear before she finally left my room, shutting the door behind her.
I laid back down and pulled the covers up to my chin. I sighed and tried to let my mind go blank, but it was no use. I kept seeing the images from the dream like a movie playing in my head. At this rate I’d never get back to sleep.
The next thing I was aware of was the morning sun shining brightly through my bedroom window.
I sat up and stretched. Suddenly, my alarm clock sounded, sending me jumping out of my skin. I sighed in relief then laughed. “Settle down, Shae, for cryin’ out loud. It’s just your stupid alarm clock telling you to get up and get ready for another lousy day at school.”
I threw my covers off and set my feet on the cold, wooden floor. I stood and realized my body felt stiff and sore, but from what I couldn’t recall. I took a step and stumbled over my tennis shoe.
“Stupid converse,” I mumbled, kicking it across the room.
Then something caught my full attention. I peered down and gasped as I reached for the torn fabric. The bottom of my nightshirt was ripped and hanging in a ribbon past my knees.
Panic rushed into my very veins. I turned around and my eyes scanned my room—nothing—no one! I ran to my window and peered out into the forest—nothing! What was I going to do? Was I going crazy? No—I wasn’t. I was out in that forest last night and something had a hold of me, but what? And why can’t I remember? I sat down on my bed, exasperated, and cried.
Chapter Three
Shae
I walked through my day in a daze. Not even the chiding from Karen and Darcy had the power to get a rise out of me. I wasn’t sure what was happening anymore. Maybe I was going crazy. Before I knew what I was doing, I found myself walking through the schoolyard and straight toward the nearby forest. It was as if my feet had a mind of their own, just like in my dream. I held my breath as I stepped in, expecting some kind of catastrophe. Well, I was still alive. Nothing jumped out at me at least. I stepped a little further. Still nothing happened. I sighed in relief. “See, Shae, you’re not crazy after all,” I said to myself.
“Are you lost?”
