Summary

When Ana wakes up in an alley after a night out with her friends, she doesn't know what happened. She can't remember anything from the previous night, and it seems like it's still dark. Not that much time could've passed . . . could it? She's alone and frightened, and when she stumbles home, her family isn't there. The only sign of life is the television, which is blaring the news. Lisa McCain and Kristen Kelleher are dead . . . the two friends Ana had been out with that night.

 Who could've killed the two kindhearted girls? All fingers point to Ana. With the blood of her friends on her clothes and no alibis to provide, things aren't looking good for Ana. Even though she has no idea what occurred that night, she couldn't possibly have killed her friends. But when a voice shows up in her head, guiding her to who the real killer is, she must consider the possibility of having gone insane. She's not crazy. . .

 With a war being waged within herself debating her sanity, and the death of her two friends blamed on Ana, she must find the real killer, with the help of the unsuspecting voice in her head. The monster could be anyone, hiding anywhere, but could the real monster be inside someone? Maybe even Ana herself? 

Chapter One

It was cold. Ana Walcott  was lying on the dirty ground of Fifth Avenue. A dumpster was shielding her from the view of the street, so no one knew she was there in the alley.

 Her head was throbbing. Ana could feel a sticky substance dripping from the back of her skull down to her throat. Her eyes were closed. She could smell garbage and hear the sounds of dogs barking around her. She moaned.

 As Ana opened her eyes, she saw darkness. She blinked a few times and after a while her eyes began to adjust. She could make out a chain-link fence a few feet away from her face, and her back pressed against a large foul smelling dumpster. Ana groaned again, struggling to her knees.

 Her whole body felt sore, as if she had just run a mile without stretching. Stones pressed into her palms, sending little jolts of pain through her hands, and her knees were enduring the same. Ana grimaced as she got unsteadily to her feet, using the grime smeared wall of the dumpster for support.

 It was nearly pitch black, but from what she could see her black skirt was torn and her pink blouse was darkly wet. Ana hoped it wasn't some gross sludge from the dumpster behind her. Searching around Ana found her black clutch on the ground. She picked it up and inspected the contents, relieved when she found her phone and the twenty dollars she always carried around with her in case of emergencies.

 She still had her black heels on for which she was glad. Walking barefoot around town was not the best idea. The throbbing in Ana's head hadn't gotten any better. If there was ever a time for her mother to be here to offer her some Aspirin, it was now.

 To the side of Ana was a brick wall, and as she turned around she saw the lit street of Fifth Avenue. Ana made her way outside of the alley with her purse in her hand, and once she emerged she was met with empty sidewalks and closed restaurants to her left and right. Everything was closed, even the clubs that were open till all hours of the night. What . . . time was it?

 Ana rifled through her purse until she came up with her phone. When she pressed the power button though, the screen stayed black. She scowled, her eyes widening in fear. Had she broken her phone sometime during the night? Her mother would kill her if she messed up another phone. This was her third this month. After hitting the button a few more times with no results, Ana concluded that her phone just wasn't going to work.

 Shoving it back into her purse, she looked up and down the street, seeing absolutely no one. Jesus, she really wished her goddamn phone would work. What the hell time was it? With no one around and no place open offering a phone or a hint as to where she specifically was, Ana was completely out of luck.

 She concentrated on where she had been before she passed out. The funny thing was she didn't even remember lying down to take a nap on the dirty streets of Manhattan. She didn't remember much at all, except leaving school and making plans with Lisa, Kristen, and Ally to go out for a girl's night. Had they even made it out?

 Obviously, considering she was on Fifth Avenue which was where the fun always was. Somehow with everything shut down and barely lit by the street lights, things seemed much more eerie than fun to Ana tonight.

 She straightened up and stepped fully into the meager light, feeling how cold and damp the air was. Ana clutched her arms around herself, realizing that her shirt was especially cold from being wet. She had forgotten, and as she looked down she gasped, her stomach giving a sickening twist.

 Large red splotches stained her shirt. It must've been soaked into her skirt as well, because red trails were beginning to trickle down her legs. With a shaking hand Ana touched her throat where she had felt sticky before, assuming it had just been something dripping from the dumpster. However when she pulled her hand back, her fingers were crimson.

 With a yelp of terror Ana stumbled back into the brick wall of the alley, staring wide eyed in horror at her hand and legs slowly turning red.

 "Oh God, oh God, oh God." She kept repeating, frantically wiping her hands on her skirt to get the blood off of her.

 She couldn't understand how she was bleeding so much. She didn't feel like she was injured, aside from the stiffness of lying in an alleyway for who knows how long and a persistent headache. Ana wondered for a split second if she had cut herself while getting up but quickly dismissed it. A small cut wouldn't have produced this much blood. But if it wasn't her blood then . . . who's was it? 

 

 

 

Chapter Two

All Ana knew was that she had to get home. She had no clue where the nearest police station was, and with her phone having self-destructed somehow, she had to rely on her memory of Fifth Avenue to get her back.

 She had only been on this street a few times for dates before and the rare girls night. Ana wondered where Lisa and Kristen were, considering Ally had bailed on all the girls. Always a wishy-washy girl. They had invited her mainly because they had been friends since grade school and well, Ally had overheard and butted into their conversation. They had really been left with no choice.

 The more Ana walked in her too high heels down the street the more she wished payphones were still popular. She also wished she had stayed with Lisa and Kristen, wherever they had gone. Ana was only nineteen, not old enough to legally drink, but Kristen's boyfriend was legal, and he always managed to bring them what they requested whenever they were together. Ana concluded that she had just passed out from whatever alcohol was in her system, and that was why she couldn't remember anything aside from getting dressed to go out, not the actual going out part.

 Wait, that sign looked familiar. West Street, Chestnut Avn. Yes! Ana now knew where she was going. Chestnut Avn. was just a few blocks away from her house on Willard Street. With a sigh of relief, she made her way down the block.

 She was going to be fine, and when she got home her doting nurse mother would take her to the hospital, let Ana borrow her phone, and call Lisa and Kristen to make sure they were okay. Maybe ask them what had happened before she blacked out. Ana wasn't sure if she really wanted to know the events that went on that night. She knew one of them would bring it up eventually anyway. Still, Ana planned on avoiding the embarrassment for as long as she could.

 After a good twenty minutes of walking, she estimated anyway, she could see her house in the distance. She couldn’t help it, she took off her shoes and went running to the homey, two story colonial and unlocked the door as quickly as she could. When Ana burst in, she dropped her heels at the entrance and leaned against the closed door, her breathing heavy.

 She did it, she was home and she was safe. She deposited her purse on the entryway table and made her way into the kitchen, flicking on the lights as she did. First things first Ana checked the clock on the stove. 4:50 a.m. Damn . . . she had stayed out all night? Her parents would be furious. They would be getting up at about five for their jobs, and Ana was not looking forward to that conversation when they came downstairs and saw her covered in dirt and blood.

 Ana went to the fridge and pulled out some iced tea, pouring herself a nice tall glass. She was halfway through it when an obnoxious male voice shouted from behind her. She spun around, dropping her tea in the process. The glass shattered on the floor, her drink now soaking her legs. Ana wasn't paying attention to that though. She was too stunned looking at the television to clean up her mess.

 The TV was turned up as loud as it could go, and 69 News was on. The lead anchorman was on the screen. He seemed to be yelling the news at her, and Ana flinched as she got closer, reaching for the remote and dialing it down a few notches.

 "Three Manhattan teenagers had been reported missing early this morning. Lisa McCain, Kristen Kelleher, and Ana Walcott. The bodies of Miss McCain and Miss Kelleher have since been discovered in a dumpster in an alley on Fifth Avenue just hours ago."

 Ana hopped up from the couch before she could hear more and made a beeline for the bathroom near the kitchen. She didn't even bother closing the door as she dropped to the floor and vomited into the toilet. She wasn't sure how long she was in there, long enough that there was nothing left in her body to puke up by the time she was done. Ana stood, rinsed her mouth out, and returned to the family room, setting the TV on mute and keeping her eyes off the screen.

 Not . . . Not possible. Lisa and Kristen couldn't be dead. She had just seen them in homeroom yesterday. They had made plans to go out, Ana had even gotten dressed and they all were texting arranging a place to meet. But that's all she could recall . . . she couldn't remember actually seeing the girls last night. For all the good her memory was doing her right now, she might as well have been comatose for the past ten hours. Who's to say she wasn't? Obviously not Ana.

 Oh God . . . their bodies had been found in the dumpster she had been curled up against. They were right there . . . Ana had to take a deep breath and clamp her mouth shut to keep from throwing up again. This could not be happening.

 The only way she would find out more would be to turn the volume back on the TV and listen to the rest of the news report. If Lisa and Kristen were dead and their bodies had been found a few hours ago, then Ana had taken much longer to get home than she thought.

 Reluctantly, she took the remote and pressed the mute button, the volume returning.

 "The body of Ana Walcott has not yet been discovered. Police are searching for her, and have not determined whether she is alive or dead."

 The image on the screen shifted from the man to a dark street Ana immediately recognized as Fifth Avenue. Police tape had been put up sectioning off the alley from the rest of the street and bystanders were gathered around. A blonde woman reporter was standing with a microphone next to a squat woman Ana also knew as Megan, a bartender at one of the nearby clubs.

 "I'm here with eye witness Megan Larch who says she saw the girls leaving a dance club near her own restaurant with a man just a few hours before their bodies were recovered."

 The blonde said into the camera, then put the microphone up to Megan.

 "I saw the two blondes and a brunette leave with an attractive fella I'd never seen before. The girls sometimes came into my place for a drink or something, but they had never been with him."

 Megan provided.

 "Could you tell us what the man looked like?"

 The blonde reporter pressed for info. Megan was more than eager to keep going.

 "He was tall, thin, and with real dark hair. I didn't see too much of his face but he was a good looking guy."

 Ana couldn't help thinking that the reporter and Megan were discussing the person that Lisa and Kristen were last seen alive with as if it was someone who's shoes they had liked when they walked by. These are their lives you're talking about, how can you have such little respect?! Ana seethed silently, paying attention again once the screen went back to the anchorman.

 "Who the mystery man the girls were seen with is unknown. Police are digging for as much information as they can find. As for Ana Walcott, family and police force are scouring the area looking for her. Everyone has high hopes for a safe return. If you have seen her, or know of someone who has, please call this number . . ."

 A phone number was listed at the bottom of the screen, but that was all Ana needed to hear. She shut off the TV and immediately went to the phone. She knew that she was alone in this house, because her whole family believed she was dead or close to it. She was a missing person.

 Ana called her mother's cell first. Her mom answered on the first ring.  

"If you're calling to harass me more about my daughter's disappearance I would advise against it. I am currently with law enforcement and will not hesitate to-"

 "Mom?" Ana interrupted. Her mother obviously had not recognized their home phone number. She couldn't blame her. With how much her hands were shaking Ana was just glad she had dialed the correct number.

 There was silence over the phone for a few seconds. Until a shocked whisper could be heard.

 "Ana baby? Is that really you?" Her mother murmured.

 Tears were already threatening, and now they had begun to run down her face. Ana sniffled, feeling everything that had happened, all the confusion and her friends' apparent deaths come rushing out in one wrenching sob.

 "Yes Mom, it's me." Ana choked out.

 "It's Ana!" Her mom shouted to someone in the background. It was loud enough to hurt her ears, but at that moment Ana really didn't care. Just to hear her mother's voice after tonight was a wonderful thing.

 "Oh my gosh Ana, what happened to you darling? Oh my baby, my poor baby." Her mom was crying now too. Ana's sobs were loud enough to fill the whole house. She wiped her nose, answering her mother's question the best she could.

 "I don't know."

 

Chapter Three

When the police arrived at the house with her parents, Ana was a quivering mess of snot and tears lying on the couch. She was curled up in a ball, still in her bloody clothes, and her mother and father rushed in, taking her in an immediate hug.

 "Ana, oh my God." Her father said in astonishment, his face buried in her hair.

 "We were so worried." Her mother murmured, her face in the hollow of Ana's neck.

 Ana was still sobbing. Her eyes were red and burning, the blue of her eyes outlined severely because of how bloodshot they were. Her nose was dripping, and she was hoarse from all the crying. When her parents finally pulled back, it was because the police made them.

 "We have to get her to a hospital and have her checked out immediately." One of the officers, a big muscular black man with a tremendously deep voice instructed sternly.

 Even though Ana wanted nothing more than to get changed, take a hot bath, and sleep for the next few months until all of this was over, she knew that she would have to be seen by a doctor. Who knew what kind of injuries she had that could have resulted in so much blood.

 Her parents also understood. Her mother and father straightened up, her mom using her dad's handkerchief to wipe her nose and eyes. Her dad pulled another from his pocket and offered it to her. Ana took it and without reservation blew her nose.

 "Should she go by ambulance or car?" The officer asked her parents.

 "Car." Her mother and Ana said at the same time.

 "There's been enough fuss about all of this and we don't need the press following us to the ER." Her mom said before sniffling loudly. Ana agreed completely.

 When she was younger she had broken her arm and had been rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. She was perfectly capable of being driven then, and the EMT's from the ambulance although polite obviously had better things to do than tend to an eight year old's broken arm. No, Ana would go by car.

 "Very well." The officer said looking to his pale by comparison partner. "We'll accompany you if that's alright," He requested.

 Ana's father nodded. "Of course."

 Once at St. Mary's hospital, Ana was thoroughly checked out and only found to have a cut on the back of her head, which had caused the trickle down her neck. Her clothes were taken away by a nurse and she was provided with a hospital gown. She got her own room and an IV plugged into her while they performed routine diagnostics. Making sure she had no brain damage, no internal bleeding, no broken bones, that kind of stuff.

 She sat quietly throughout the whole process, trying with all her might not to think about Lisa and Kristen. Lisa, with her long golden blonde hair Ana always envied. Her bright green eyes, and bubbly laugh that just made everyone else around her want to join in.

 Then there was Kristen. Her gorgeous auburn hair that she hated for how straight it was, but Ana always assured her anyone would kill for Kristen's hair. She didn't realize the horror in that memory now until she recalled it. She quickly pushed it away.

Kristen had the warmest brown eyes, and her skin was perfection. Ana always begged her for her secret to her flawless skin, but Kristen swore to high heaven that it was completely natural.

 Thinking about her deceased friends brought tears to Ana's eyes, which she fought to hold back. The black detective she now knew as Detective Morris made his way into the hospital room with Detective Gillian, his smaller white partner.

 Detective Morris stood at the side of Ana's bed, his eyes stern but approaching. She had seen enough movies about police to know that he was here to interview her.

 "We just want to ask you a few questions, Ana." Detective Morris said calmly. She nodded.

 "Where was the last place you and your friend were together?" He asked.

 It should've been an easy question, but the only thing Ana could remember was when they were at school.

 "School. We were together in homeroom." She answered honestly.

 Morris cocked an eyebrow and shared a conspiratorial glance with Detective Gillian. Ana got the sickly feeling that they didn't believe her.

 "We have eye witness accounts that you, Miss McCain, and Miss Kelleher were seen together last night at around nine p.m. Could you recall where you all went?" He tried again, with a bit less warmth this time.

 Ana swallowed. They were getting angry with her, but she couldn't help it. She honestly only remembered being in class with them yesterday. She didn't even know how she had gotten into the alley where Lisa and Kristen's bodies had been found. She attributed her memory loss to being in shock, but she knew that wasn't the answer the police were looking for.

 "I don't know. I don't even remember going out last night." Ana admitted in despair.

 Detective Morris turned back to Gillian and murmured something before he nodded down at Ana.

 "We'll come back after you've had some rest."

 The two detectives left her room, but not before she could catch what they were whispering in the hall.

 "If she doesn't confess or give us a solid alibi, we're going to have to charge her with the homicides."

 All the blood drained from Ana's face. She was frozen, unable to move from shock. They believed that she killed Lisa and Kristen? She loved the two girls like sisters, how dare those detectives accuse her of their murders? There had to be some mistake.

 No mistake Ana.

 Someone contradicted from inside the room. The person didn't sound like they were trying to argue with her, in fact the voice appeared oddly calm and rational.

 But her pulse raced, because from what she could see there was no one else in there with her. She was alone.

 "Nurse?" She called. Perhaps it was someone in the hallway. Her door was closed, Detective Morris had shut it on their way out. The probability of someone's voice from the hall filtering into her room was unlikely, unless they were shouting . . .

 "Mom? Dad?" Ana yelled again. Her parents had been at the hospital the whole time since she arrived. Maybe they were back from the cafeteria.

 "Is that you?" She asked.

 She waited a few seconds, but there was no answer. Ana fell back on her pillows, closing her eyes in exhaustion. Whoever that was, she just hoped she wouldn't hear from them again. 

Chapter Four

She was released from the hospital the next day. Ana's CAT scan had come back with no brain damage, there was no internal bleeding, and her bones were in perfect shape. She left the hospital with a small bandage on the back of her head and that was it.

 Once Ana was outside, she was met with a flood of reporters and flashing cameras. She blinked in surprise and irritation, stumbling backward into the arms of her mother.

 Mrs. Walcott pushed and shoved her way through the crowd, her face drawn and emotionless. A few of the words the people blocking Ana and her parents were saying got through to her.

 "Ana! Ana! What do you have to say about the discovery of your friends' bodies?"

 "Ana Walcott! How do you plan to retaliate in the murder charge of McCain and Kelleher?"

 "Ana! Why can't you remember anything from the night your friends were killed?"

 "Ana!"

 "Ana!"

 "Ana!"

 After a while it was just a buzzing of nothing but her name, and Ana's head was throbbing with the intrusive and hurtful questions from these strangers.

 Once at their car, Ana was promptly shoved in the backseat with her mother accompanying her. Her father got in the driver's seat, starting up the vehicle. There were cop cars in front and behind them to escort them back to their house. The crowd was forced to thin out around them, and the police quickly got the Walcott's out of the overrun hospital parking lot.

 "What . . . was all of that?" Ana asked in terrified astonishment. Her mother shook her head.

 "Vultures that's what it was." Mr. Walcott said before his wife could.

 Ana's eyes widened. Her father wasn't a nasty man at all, and to hear such anger and hatred in his voice was a shock.

 "They're just trying to get something out of us for a story." Her mother explained in more detail. "Kind of like the paparazzi, only they're working for the news station and not a tabloid."

 She swallowed, her throat and mouth very dry. Some of the things those people were asking  her were bringing up the raw emotions she was trying so hard to repress in order not to burst into tears. It was nearly impossible to do so, and the reporters out there were only making things worse.

 Except the one reporter had said something that one of the detectives had mentioned as well. Something Ana had to press her parents about.

 "What did that one person mean when they mentioned a  murder charge?"

 Her mother pursed her lips, and there was silence in the front seat from her father. Ana knew she had hit something vital, and she wasn't about to let it go.

 "Mom it's me, you can tell me." She coaxed, but it did not seem like Mrs. Walcott was willing to divulge.

 "Sweetie we just want you to rest and not worry about things for a little while. As soon as we get you home I'll make you some hot chocolate in bed, okay?" She said warmly.

 Ana scowled in irritation. She felt as if she had a right to know these things. It wasn't that she particularly wanted to find out, but she needed to. Her two friends had just been murdered for Christ's sake, and everyone was keeping her in the dark?

 

Chapter Five

Before Ana could be sent to bed like her parents wanted the police walked into the house behind them. Mrs. Walcott was less than pleased.

 "Can't you people leave us alone for a few minutes?" She snapped at Detective Morris.

 He stood and took her bad temperament in stoic silence before shaking his head. "I'm sorry ma'am, but we must talk to your daughter for a bit longer. We promise we'll be out of here soon."

 Even though Ana's mom didn't like it, Mrs. Walcott sighed and made her way into the kitchen. "I'll make some coffee."

 Detective Morris, leaving Gillian in the kitchen to speak with Mr. and Mrs. Walcott, lead Ana into the formal living room, sitting down on one of the floral couches. She took a seat in the chair across from him.

 He had his hands clasped together in front of him and he was calmly looking at her. Ana stared back. She was freezing cold, and her nerves were more than frayed. She wasn't sure how much more she could take before she would break down again, like when she had called her mother. Morris leaned back, crossing his legs.

 "Alright Ana, now I know you don't want to be here talking to me. Frankly, I don't want to be here talking with you either. I would much rather have Lisa and Kristen alive and with us today and no case going on. But unfortunately, that's not reality. And here we are. So, you might as well cooperate." He said straightforward. She wasn't surprised, in fact she was glad someone was finally talking directly to her about what was going on. That's what she had been wanting.

 "I understand Detective." She responded in a composed manner. There was no change in his demeanor, but at least he now knew that she was willing to cooperate.

 "Good. Now, I want you to tell me everything you remember from that night. Every possible detail you can give me." The detective pulled out a pad and pencil, at the ready for any information Ana could provide. The only problem was . . . there was barely anything she could give.

 "I remember going home from school and getting changed. Texting Lisa, Kristen, and Ally. We were planning on going out. I remember Ally bailed, she said she had too much homework to do. We were glad . . . we didn't really want her to go in the first place." Ana recalled from the other night. That was it . . . her memory stopped there. She had no idea why. She wondered if she had been hit on the head, or fallen down the stairs. Or maybe she was still in shock, and she was blocking what happened out . . .  Well whatever Ana's subconscious was doing, it would be helpful if it would knock it the hell off.

 "You and I both know there's more to it than that Ana." Detective Morris said in a cold tone. He wasn't visibly angry or upset, he was a detective. It was his job to hide his emotions. However he was making it obvious he didn't believe what she said.

 "Why don't you tell me what else happened." He asked. Ana shook her head.

 "There's nothing else I remember. I'm sorry." She admitted, feeling herself back on the verge of tears.

 Detective Morris leaned forward, no longer in his relaxed position on the couch. His eyes were stern, his jaw set.

 "I don't think you realize the severity of the situation-"

 "My friends are dead how dare you say that!" Ana shouted in tearful anger. She wiped her eyes, frustrated that she was crying in front of him like this and not caring at the same time. How could he say she didn't understand the severity of the situation? Lisa and Kristen had been murdered, and he thought she didn't understand the situation?! You bastard, she quietly thought.

 "No Ana, you don't understand." Detective Morris continued solemnly. "Many people believe you murdered your two friends."

 Ana's heart dropped into her stomach. Her blood ran completely cold. Now she understood what the reporter had meant when they yelled at her about a murder charge . . .

 "I- How could anyone think that? I loved those two girls!" Ana whispered in horror, the tears pouring down her face. She sobbed, her nose running as well. "I loved them." She repeated in almost a silent murmur.

 The detective remained emotionless. He cocked his head a bit though, raising his eyebrows. "Did you? Or did you murder Lisa and Kristen?"

 Her jaw dropped in mortified shock. How in the hell could he be asking her this?

 "I loved them!" She said again, her tears falling in despair. "I loved them like they were my sisters. I could've never murdered them."

 Detective Morris shrugged. "Maybe you're telling the truth and you really can't remember what happened, and that you didn't kill Miss McCain and Miss Kelleher. Or, maybe you're just a very good actress."

 "I didn't murder them!" Ana screamed. "I loved them!"

 The detective stood, tucking away his pad and pencil. He was obviously done with her and her sobs. He didn't believe her . . .

 "I didn't kill them! I swear to god, I loved them! They were my best friends!" Ana cried, but she knew he wouldn't believe her. He was set on believing she was lying. But she wasn't, she was telling the god's honest truth. She just couldn't fucking remember.

 "Please", she begged as the detective watched her cry. "I didn't kill them." Ana murmured.

 Detective Morris just shrugged again. "Thank you for your time Ana."

 Just like that, he left the room, left her to cry and sob alone. 

Chapter Six

Ana bolted up the stairs in order to avoid seeing her parents or either of the detectives. She locked herself in her room and curled up on her bed, holding a pillow over her mouth to stifle her sobs.

 She didn't kill Lisa and Kristen . . . She could've never killed them. They were her best friends, the people she told everything, the people who she was with every day. They had been best friends since they were little kids and met in grade school. They had stuck together all these years, and now someone had ripped them away from Ana. Except people, including the police, believed that someone was her . . .

 "I didn't kill them." She murmured to herself.

 I know you didn't, Ana.

 Someone was speaking to her. It sounded like the same person from earlier in the hospital room. She sat straight up in bed, her eyes wide and searching her room. It was small and cozy, with very little hiding places for an intruder. The only real option would be her closet.

 Slowly getting up, Ana made her way over to her two door closet, reaching under her bed quickly for her old little league bat, just in case. Thank God she never cleaned out her room and gotten rid of her old stuff like her mother had suggested.

 With a quivering hand, Ana reached out and flung the doors aside, holding her bat at the ready. It was empty, aside from her hangers of clothes. She gingerly moved the clothes to get a better look, but it was obvious no one was in there.

I'm not a physical being you can find, much less bash over the head with a bat. Sorry to burst your bubble.

 The voice was back and mocking her. Ana spun around, sweat popping up on her brow.

 "Who are you? What do you want from me?" She asked, sounding silly even to herself speaking to someone that wasn't even there. But they had to be there . . . somewhere.

 I suggest you relax and face the fact that you're not going to find me. I'm in your head, not your room. 

 Now in fury, Ana tore apart her room. Going through drawers, flipping over the contents of her dresser, destroying her closet. There had to be a recorder hidden or something, replaying this voice to her. It was here somewhere, she just had to find it.

 After a thorough investigation of her room, it was left looking like a tornado had ripped through it. Nothing was where it was supposed to be, but Ana had gone through everything and found . . . nothing. She dropped what she had been holding, a shoe and a pair of jeans, and sank to the floor on her knees, holding her head in her hands.

 "This can't be happening." She muttered in disbelief.

 I wish it wasn't.

 The voice had chimed in again, and Ana clapped her hands over her ears, shutting her eyes tight.

 "You're not real, you're not real. I'm just imagining this, I'm in shock. I'm not crazy, I'm in shock." She said in almost a mantra to herself, but that didn't stop the voice from speaking again.

 You're either going to have to learn to deal with me, or lose your mind in the process. It's one or the other Ana, I'm not going anywhere so you have time to think it over.

 She bit her lower lip to keep from screaming. Her chest was tight with fear and apprehension. Ana was unwilling to face the fact that she was hearing voices, well, a voice. She wasn't crazy . . . she wasn't crazy . . .

 I never said you were crazy, but you are stubborn.

 "No!" Ana shrieked, rocking back and forth on the floor. "No, no, no, no, no . . ."

 The door to her bedroom flew open, the lock ripped from the frame. Her mother and father came rushing in her room, distraught and panicked seeing her curled up in a ball on the floor, crying and muttering to herself. They picked her up and took her downstairs, placing her on the couch in the family room so that they could keep an eye on her.

 Her mother sat on the ground by her side, holding Ana's hand reassuringly in hers. "Sweetie what happened?"

 Ana was at a loss for words, and she fumbled for what to say. In her blind fear and confusion, she said the only thing that she could.

 "I'm not crazy . . ."

 

 

Chapter Seven

Her father had to go to work for 3rd shift, which left Ana's mother to look after her. They had barely left her alone since her return and frankly, Ana didn't want to be left alone. When she was with her parents, she didn't hear the voice. She was afraid the moment they left it would come back.

 She was still searching for a rational explanation for it. A recorder had obviously been ruled out, a physical being near her speaking was also improbable, but Ana was determined to find out where it was coming from. It just couldn't be coming from inside her head, it couldn't . . .

 "Hon, I have to run to the drug store to pick up my prescription. With all that's been going on I haven't gotten the chance." Mrs. Walcott gently told her.

 A stab of fear hit Ana in her chest, but she forced an understanding smile. "It's alright Mom, go ahead."

 "You sure you'll be alright?" Her mom asked in concern.

 Ana could tell her mother was worried about her, but she had to let her live her life. The murders had happened only two days ago, but to achieve somewhat of a sense of normalcy would be a blessing. So, she let Mrs. Walcott go.

 Now alone in their house that seemed all too big, Ana was left with her shaking fear and faulty sense of stability. She knew that she would crack if she heard that voice again. She was holding onto what little sanity she had left by a thread, and she really didn't want that thread to rip.

 You're overreacting, it's not like I'm physically hurting you.

 "Oh no", Ana moaned, her heart dropping into her stomach. Just as she had feared . . . it was back.

 "What do you want from me?" She asked in despair.

 Whether you choose to believe it or not, I want nothing except to help you.

 Help her? How on earth could this anonymous voice inside her head help her? It was a sign of insanity and was helping her into a mental institution, but other that Ana saw no way that this voice could be of any assistance to her.

 I know you didn't kill Lisa and Kristen, Ana. Out of all of the people involved in this horrible mess, I know that you're innocent. 

Chapter Eight

She screamed. She couldn’t help it, she let out a high pitched shriek that rattled the whole house. It only lasted a few seconds but when she was finished she could barely catch her breath.

 Good God, are you quite done?

 The voice sounded irritated, but Ana just didn't care.

 "Leave me alone, and get the fuck out of my head!" She yelled in fear and anger, her eyes wide and darting around the room. As if she could find it anywhere in there.

 I cannot leave, Ana. Not until this is all over.

 What the hell did that mean?!

 "Get the fuck out of my head." She repeated through gritted teeth, breathing harshly.

 You are one stubborn girl. Don't you understand that I'm here to help you, not drive you insane? Although you're doing a fine job at that all on your own.

"Look, whoever you are just leave me alone please." Ana was back on the verge of tears. She wasn't sure how much more strength she had left in her before she collapsed again. "I don't care who you are or what you want, just leave." She begged the unknown voice.

 Ana just listen to me.

 Like she had a goddamn choice.

 I know you're scared and going through a lot right now but you need to think clearly and get your head in the game. In a matter of days Detective Morris and Gillian will be returning with your arrest warrant and they will be charging you with Lisa and Kristen's murder. I don't want to see you put away, neither does your family. And I highly doubt you want to spend the rest of your days in a jail cell.

 Ana's stomach rolled just thinking about it. But what right did those two detectives have to falsely accuse her and send her to jail?

The cards aren't exactly in your favor. Remember the clothes you were wearing that night?  All that blood? You were right when you questioned how it could've all been yours. It wasn't.

 No . . . oh God, no. But even as she thought it, she had a sinking feeling in her gut that told her the voice wasn't lying.

 Lisa and Kristen's blood had been all over her that night. She had been walking around with her friend's lives splattered on her body and she hadn't even known. Ana was about to be sick.

I have a few more things to say before you succumb again. You can't remember a thing and you were found in the exact location Lisa and Kristen's bodies had been discovered. Do you see how the odds are extremely against you? It seems almost planned, as if you were framed. Of course no one in court would believe that claim. Except, I know who killed those two girls. And even though you can't remember anything, it wasn't you Ana.

 "Wait." She spoke up, her hands shaking and heart pounding. "Who killed Lisa and Kristen?"

 It was crazy that she was asking a voice in her friend for the identity of the murderer of her friends, but she literally had no other option. If the voice at least gave her an idea as to who it was, it would be better than nothing.

 I'm going to help you find him. That's why I'm here.

 "But that makes no sense!" She shouted, fury turning her face red. 

"Ana baby?" Her mother came through the door, closing it behind her. "Who are you talking to? Are you alright?"

 Ana fumbled for her missing sanity and gripped a bit of it, enough to plaster a smile on her face and stand up, wrapping the blanket from the couch around her.

 "I'm fine Mom, just really tired. I think I'm gonna take a nap." The voice had strayed, as far as she could hear, for which she was grateful.

 "Don't you wanna stay down here? I was just about to start dinner." Mrs. Walcott set her purse down on the counter and began gathering items from the cabinets for a meal.

 Ana's appetite hadn't been present the past few days. She could barely stomach the chicken  broth her parents gave her to eat. It was all she had, that and water. She wasn't about to stick around downstairs and go running for the bathroom at the first smell of food.

 "I'm good, thanks. I'm just gonna head to bed." She said and made her way to the stairs.

 "Alright. I love you honey." Her mother called behind her.

 "Love you too."

Once Ana was clear from the family room she ran into her bedroom and shut the door behind her. Now that she was alone, the voice was silent. She waited a few minutes more, seeing the numbers on her digital clock go up. Ana began to get frustrated.

 "What? Nothing? Why so quiet now?" She asked the empty space. "Aren't you gonna say something?"

 When nobody said anything in return, she plopped face first down on her bed.

 "What the fuck is wrong with me." Ana muttered to herself, rolling over and shutting her eyes.

 If she looked at the bright side, the voice was gone. Except it had said something about Lisa and Kristen's killer . . . oh who was she kidding, it was a voice inside her head, most likely a figment of her imagination. It wouldn't know anything more than she knew herself.

 Not true.

 She stiffened. The cool and calm voice inside her head had made an appearance once again. God dammit.

 "I thought you left." Ana mused wistfully. 

 No Ana. Like I said before, I'm afraid you won't be rid of me until this whole thing is over.

 She was back to square one, asking what the fuck that even meant. But seeing as that hadn't gotten her anywhere except back to where she started, she tried a different tactic.

 "So how are you going to help me find their killer anyway?" Ana asked, as if this was just a regular conversation and she wasn't completely alone in her room talking to herself.

 First things first is you have to avoid going to jail. My advice would be to stay as far away from Scooby and Shaggy as possible. If that doesn't work, run.

 Run? Run where? Ana was known all across the country as the lone survivor and possible witness to a double homicide. She couldn't exactly go walking down the street like normal.

 I'll help you with that too, however it will require you going out into the real world just for a little while. 

"For what?" She wondered.

 Hair dye.

 Ana almost groaned. She couldn't be seriously considering going on the run, away from her family, and taking the word of this thing in her head?

 What other choice do you have?

 The voice remarked, sounding almost cocky. Ana recoiled, grimacing. It was right of course.

 "What about my parents? I've just come back, and they won't let me step foot outside." She recognized, feeling a fleeting sense of hope that maybe this would stump the voice and it would go away after all. 

Haven't you ever snuck out of the house before? You're a teenage girl, you cannot lie and say you haven't. Just do it again. For a longer period this time, but it's still all the same.  

 "They'll notice." This she knew for a fact.

 I never said they wouldn't.

 "I can't do that to them." Ana said firmly.

 Her parents had thought she had met the same fate as her friends, and when she returned they believed that she was more likely a ghost than her actual self. Now that they had her back, she couldn’t leave them like that. 

 You must look at the big picture. Upset two people now, but bring justice to your friends  and many people later. Your parents will be fine for your short absence. Besides, they won't be able to recognize you if they saw you anyway.

 "What do you suggest I do?" Ana asked meekly. She wasn't too sure if she wanted to know. But like the voice had so kindly pointed out, what other choice did she have?

 

 

Chapter Nine

She had missed her opportunity to go to the drugstore with her mother last week to pick up the dye, so she went with her father today to visit her brother who worked there.

 It had been over a week since the Lisa and Kristen had died, and over a week that she had still been hearing the Voice. She had become accustomed to calling it "the voice" so she just called it that regularly now. After strong consideration and a weighing of her minimal options, Ana also decided to just go along with the Voice's plan about finding out who killed her two friends.

 It wasn't like the police were getting anywhere, except releasing details that the girls had died from one clean stab wound each to the heart. Aside from that, no fingerprints had been recovered, no murder weapon, nothing. Nothing except what they already knew. So, Ana decided to take matters into her own hands and try to find this killer. And she'd take whatever help she could get.

 Ana had twenty dollars stuck in her coat pocket in order to purchase the hair dye, and she was waiting for further instruction from the Voice when she got there.

 She still was debating whether she was crazy or not. The odds were leaning towards insanity, what kind of sane person heard voices?

 The Voice had popped up out of nowhere, and she hadn't known people could go crazy at random intervals in their lives. But considering she was a puzzle piece in a double homicide case, it wasn't surprising that she had possibly gone insane. 

 I've already told you Ana, you're not crazy. I'm here for a reason. I'll leave as soon as my job is done.

 The Voice sounded like it was sighing, and Ana rolled her eyes. Yeah, yeah.

She was wearing a baggy hoodie and sunglasses to hide who she was. Even though a week had passed since Lisa and Kristen's deaths, Ana still couldn't go out in public without being pointed at or bombarded with reporters, photographers, and video cameras.

 Once Mr. Walcott pulled into an empty space in the lot, he looked over at Ana with sadness and deep concern etched in his features.

 "Are you sure you want to go inside? You could wait in the car." He offered, trying to give her an out so that she wouldn't have to show herself in public.

 She shook her head, forcing a smile that felt very wrong on her face. "I'll be fine Dad. I haven't been out of the house in so long."

 Her father looked at her for a few moments and his eyes began to fill with tears. Ana looked down, not being able to bear seeing one of her parents cry again. There had been so many tears these past few days, and knowing that she was part of the cause, was tearing her apart.

 Mr. Walcott cleared his throat, wiping his reddening eyes. "Alright. Let's get a move on."

 They both got out of the car and headed into the Rite Aid, her father heading into the pharmacy section.

 "You wanna come with?" He asked her. Ana shook her head.

 "I'll be okay. I'm just gonna wander." She said with another poorly constructed smile.

 "Call my phone if you need me." Mr. Walcott told her, before leaving her in the middle of the store.

 Ana pulled her sleeves further over her hands, feeling her chest getting tighter and tighter and her palms begin to sweat. It felt like all eyes were on her. As she looked around the place, she saw a cashier staring at her, their mouth slightly open. They knew who she was.

 Oh God, she couldn't do this. She just couldn't, she had to get out of the store. It was so hot in there, and everyone was looking at her, waiting to see what she would do. She was about to throw up on the floor, and then drop in a dead faint. Fuck, fuck, fuck!

 Stay focused Ana. You'll be fine. No one is looking at you. This is all your imagination. Your mind is being influenced by fear. You need to disregard your fear and insecurities in order to do what needs to be done.

 She took a deep breath. The large room was spinning and her stomach was churning with the fear the Voice had warned her about. She couldn't just get rid of fear. Now that it had a firm grip on her, it wasn't anywhere near to letting go. Ana's knees shook, about to buckle and give out underneath her.

 Walk. Just walk. You have two legs that work perfectly fine. Just go to the beauty section of the store. You. Will. Be. Fine.

 The voice instructed sternly. Ana shut her eyes, digging her nails into her sweaty palms. With her foot feeling like her shoe had been filled with lead, she took a step forward, moving a little bit away from the center of the floor.

 Just like that. You're not a toddler Ana, you know how to move your feet.

 With the criticism of the Voice loudly inside her head, Ana began walking to the isle with shampoo, conditioner, and hair dye. Once she was out of the spotlight, she let out a long held in breath of relief. She wasn't being looked at anymore, she was safe. 

There's no need to make a scene. Just get the dye, pay for it, and shove it in that hoodie of yours before you get back to your father.

 The Voice was back to giving Ana calm and cool instructions. At least it wasn't screeching at her anymore.

 She scanned the rows of hair care products, and looked over the various hair dyes. Her hair was a very light, very dainty blonde. She loved the color and never once dyed it in her life. Staring at the boxes of dirty blonde and browns, she felt sick to her stomach.

 Black. You need black.

 The Voice popped up to order her again, and Ana cringed. . . Black?

 Yes Ana, black.

 It hissed at her in irritation. She clamped her lips shut, and against her better judgment, reached out and grabbed the darkest box there was. The woman on the cover with jet black locks was smiling joyfully at her. That's because she wasn't being forced to change her hair color against her will. 

Ana shook her head in disapproval, but went to the register to pay. 

Chapter Ten

Well, that certainly didn't go as smoothly as I'd hoped.

The Voice was frustrated with her, and was making it very apparent. Ana sat on her bed with the dye in her hands. The Voice was urging her to do it now and get it over with, that way she wouldn't overthink it. It was hard though.

 It's fucking hair Ana. You're not a child. It'll fade for Christ's sake.

 She winced at the Voice's harshness and volume, but got up from the bed and headed into the bathroom to obey anyway. Looking at herself in the mirror, Ana's eyes widened.

 Her blonde hair was lying limp on her shoulders, and her blue eyes were dull and cloudy. Her collarbones jutted out harshly, like they were trying to pierce through her skin. Her clothes hung on her body like a very large sack, loose and too big. Her face had even hollowed out to the point where her eyes looked round and terrified. 

How she felt on the inside, was finally beginning to reflect on the outside.

 Ana wasn't sure what she should've expected. She hadn't been eating in days and with finding the monster who killed Lisa and Kristen, also with the Voice's commands, it was all taking its toll. She wasn't sure how much more her body could take before she finally broke.

 You need to take a moment and breathe. Think about why you're doing this. Why you're going through everything and what for.

 The Voice's tone had softened to almost pitiful, and Ana swallowed, her reflection mimicking her, as she obeyed what the Voice had said.

 "I'm doing it for Lisa and Kristen." She said out loud.

 That's right. For, they can't do it for themselves. They're dead. Gone and buried. It's been nearly three weeks since their blood had been spilled, law enforcement is already closing in, and not even I could take anymore waiting around. It's time for action. It's time for justice.

 He was right of course. Ana had come to the conclusion that the Voice had to be a male. Just the way he spoke and how he chided her, sounded like the way a guy would. However he was right. No matter how he put it, Lisa and Kristen weren't here anymore and couldn't bring justice to the table themselves. Someone had to do it for her. And considering the police weren't doing shit, Ana knew that this was the only other real option she had. Even if it seemed to be the work of fiction.

 Focus.

 The Voice reprimanded and she sighed, picking up the box.

Chapter Eleven

Ana stared at her reflection in the large bathroom mirror, her blue eyes even wider in shock from what she had done. Her hair as straight as a board, was now the color of the night sky. Her eyes contrasted largely with the newfound darkness of her hair, and popped out even more in large terror.

 Turned out much better than I thought. It could almost be natural.

 She had to stifle a hysterical laugh at the Voice's approval.

 I'm serious Ana, this could work. I'm very pleased with the results. Now for the makeup.

 This was something she was familiar with. Ana dug out her large pink makeup pouch from her purse and opened it once placing it on the bathroom counter. She knew what the Voice wanted her to do, and she set to work filling in her cheeks and hiding the dark circles under her eyes with foundation. After liner, mascara, some eye shadow and gloss, she looked a little bit like her former self, minus the hair. Although, one thing she couldn't get rid of was the absolute bleak emptiness in her eyes. That stuck out even more than her bones and eyes.

A pang of worry hit her in her chest and dropped into her stomach. What if . . . She couldn't do this? She was an eighteen year old girl, legally an adult, and yet she was terrified of sneaking out and getting caught by her parents. They would weld the door shut, or send her to a mental institution for sure when they saw what she had done to herself.

 They would say she wasn't coping with what had happened and needed some sort of medication for assistance. And truth be told, Ana wasn't coping and probably did need the help of some prescription meds, but that still wouldn't help Lisa and Kristen. Nothing could help them now, except giving them the justice they deserved.

 Exactly.

 The Voice agreed, and Ana shut up her makeup and returned it to her bag. She knew what she had to do now, crawl out her two story window for a simple drop onto the old trampoline in the yard. Hopefully when she bounced off it she would land in the flowerbeds and miss the hard ground, but she was leaning towards the best option. Worst case scenario she would hit the ground headfirst and be knocked unconscious, found in the yard by her parents, and readmitted into the hospital. That was the worst of the worst, but definitely not impossible, which was what scared Ana almost more than the actual concept of sneaking out.

 You'll be okay. It's a clear landing point from your window to the trampoline. You'll be absolutely fine. Trust me.

 Trust an inanimate voice inside of her head. Weeks ago Ana would've said that's fucking crazy, but look where she was now. She had no other choice, and she knew it.

 

With her purse on her shoulder stuffed with makeup and some cash, Ana made her way over to the window and pried it all the way open. Looking down, it seemed as if the ground was much farther away than reality, and Ana's hands tightened on the sill.

 

Don't look at the ground as you fall. Just concentrate on landing on your bottom. Don't land on your feet, that's the best way you could break an ankle. Just ease out and drop. Simple and easy.

 

Yeah easy for you to say, not do, Ana thought to herself. 

Chapter Twelve

Ana wasn't stupid. She had straight A's, many friends, and could always give great advice to anyone who asked for it. Everyone liked her. When she talked to people, it was rare that she didn't get what she wanted. She was just that good with words. She usually knew everything there was to know about anything, and if she didn't, she knew exactly what to say so that she would know.

 

So, Ana wasn't so dense that she didn't know that the Voice knew exactly who the killer was, could probably provide her with a name, exact location and everything. Which led her to wonder why he was leading her on such a wild goose chase.

 

She had been to Harlem, Queens, and even back in Manhattan-carefully keeping away from her home suburb. After nearly a day and a half of moving around, Ana was positive her parents knew she was gone by now and most likely had the police searching for her. So far she hadn't been recognized by anyone, proving that the Voice's theory about changing her appearance to be quite useful.

 

Ana was sitting in a diner on the corner of a street in Manhattan that she didn't know the name of, a cup of coffee in front of her, steam lazily rising up from its contents. She kept her hands around the porcelain, even though it was May and about seventy degrees outside, her hands were still icy.

 

The Voice was becoming more of  a humming at the edges of her subconscious than anything else, and while it droned on about her not listening to it and how the killer was bound to show up eventually, that he couldn't run forever, she was gritting her teeth.

 

She had had enough of the rambling, the orders, and the running around coming up with nothing. Ana was beginning to feel as though she had no more power than Lisa and Kristen had, and was nowhere near close to finding their murderer.

 

You need to follow what I'm telling you and stop being so stubborn. If you listened, maybe we would've found him by now.

 

"Shut up", Ana groaned as she pushed away her cup and laid her head down on the table. "Sing a new song would you?"

 

Instead of silence like usual when she fought against the Voice, it growled at her in fury.

 

Are you kidding? I'm the one that's been helping you cope, I'm the one that's been there for you, I'm the one at least giving a damn. Do you see anyone else taking care of you like I have?

 

 She winced at the volume and throbbing the Voice's anger brought to her head, and she buried her face in the sleeve of her sweater.

 

You're a voice inside my head. You don't even exist. You're a fabrication of my fucked up subconscious.

 

Ana was questioning why she ever even listened to the Voice. She must've obviously lost her mind by now. No sane person had a voice inside their head giving them orders, and no one with even half a brain followed those orders.

 

Apparently though, today the Voice wasn't going to quiet down without a fight.

 

I have been there for you for a month, offering you solace and someone who could guarantee you hadn't gone insane. And now you're going against me?  ME?!

 

"Yes you!" Ana screamed, standing up and spilling her hot coffee across the greasy tabletop.

 

Patrons in the diner turned their heads, some scowling at her in disgust and others with concern or pity. She wanted none of it. Ana slapped down her money, before bolting out of the restaurant and into the warm and comforting cover of night. 

Chapter Thirteen

Even though she had gone outside, it didn't change the fact that the Voice was still there and louder than ever.

 

God dammit Ana this would all be over by now if you would just fucking listen to me. That, and if you used your fucking head.

 

Shut up. Ana began to move, going from one street to the next, trying to get away. Too bad you can't get away from yourself. This was a grim realization she came to with a sinking in her gut.

 

Stop running, you'll only attract attention.

 

At that moment, with the Voice commanding her to do something yet again, she did the exact opposite of what she was told. Ana broke into a full out sprint, flying past people who yelled and even went to shove her if she had gotten in their way. She ran for blocks, not sure where she was going, and as soon as she had started running the Voice had begun a steady stream of commands, screaming them at her.

 

Stop it! Stop it right now! Don’t you see them all watching you? You're doing exactly what you are not supposed to be doing. Stop now. Ana!

 

Oh but Ana was long gone now. Gone from the diner, gone from her nearby home suburb, and gone from the murders of her friends. She just wanted to get away, to feel something other than the hollow throbbing ache inside her chest that had arrived and never left the moment she found out Lisa and Kristen were dead, and she was still alive.

 

The burning in her lungs and limbs was satisfying, and only made Ana want to run faster. It was feeling, nothing else. Like when Maria at school told about having sex with guys she met at parties, never returning their calls or going back to the same person. It was just a feeling, meaningless except for the void it filled at that precise moment.

 

For Ana, the running was worth nothing else than that short burst of something different. Even just for a few seconds.

 

She had to stop eventually though. Her body was about to give out on her. She never ran like this, and with the athletic capability of a two hundred pound competitive eater, Ana knew that this wasn't going to last long and that she had to stop before she crashed.

 

Dragging in broken gulps of air, she jogged into an alley near a bright street and leaned against the cold grimy bricks. She was breathing like someone who smoked packs upon packs of cigarettes a day, and her face was burning. Her whole body felt like it was on fire, but Ana didn't care. Even though her head was throbbing, it was silent. She was finally left alone to think, without the influence of the Voice.

 

How dumb could Ana be? Leaving her home only a few weeks after a horrific crime she was a part of, searching for a killer and not even knowing what she was going to do once she came face to face with him. There wasn't even a word for her type of stupid.

 

With her back against the surprisingly cold bricks and the sun beginning to sink down in the sky, taking the light with it, Ana felt as if she was seeing clear for the first time in weeks. And with that clarity, came a rush of fear that hadn't been present with her for the past few days, ever since the Voice had commanded her to dye her hair and go on a manhunt.

 

Ana had to get home. There was no doubt in her  mind that where she was right here right now, that running away, was wrong. Getting tried for a murder case back home was horrific, but alone here in a New York alley way wasn't any better of an alternative. Soon Ana would inevitably be found by the police, and she was more than willing to return to Manhattan peacefully. She had caused enough trouble, now it was time to fix things.

 

Have you lost your fucking mind?

 

The volume and icy cold tone of the Voice was so harsh Ana jumped, clamping her lips shut to keep from letting out a yelp of surprise. She didn't have a chance to respond before the Voice screeched.

 

You have no fucking idea what you're doing. If you don't listen to me, you'll end up dead.

 

A surge of anger gripped Ana, holding her firmly in its grasp. Her face flushed and her lip curled, as she screamed out loud.

 

"I've done nothing but listen to you for the past few weeks and I'm as good as dead already!"

 

She lowered her voice, even though the streets were empty that didn't mean no one was listening. "Nothing you can say to me will change my mind. I have to go home."

 

Something inside of her, something that had been wound taught and in control of its actions for weeks, snapped. It wasn't a tangible thing Ana could grasp in her hands, but it was something that she could feel. It was like a rubber band being stretched to its limit and suddenly snap!

 

You dare disobey me Ana?  Me? I control you. You do not listen to me?

 

Suddenly the Voice's presence began to fade, going further and further into the background of her mind. The intensity was still there, but it was shifted. The shift made her skin crawl, because she got the horrible sense that she was not alone . . . and that the Voice was not done.

 

If you do not want to listen to me Ana, then I have no choice.

 

The fading was even more prominent now, until the Voice was just an angry whisper, talking in an even voice that shivered with fury.

 

You don't need my help anymore. You have found me.

 

Ana was wrong, she realized with a chill dancing slowly up her spine to rest at the base of her neck. She was wrong, oh she was so very wrong. The whisper was no longer soft, it was very loud. It was loud, angry, and right in her ear.

Chapter Fourteen

Ana stood at her full height, a coldness like no other seeping through her skin right to the very depth of her bones. There was no doubt there was someone standing next to her in that alley, someone who had not been there ten minutes ago when she had entered the dead end alley way.

 

The voice inside her head was gone, because it was now standing with her, right next to her and breathing into her ear. Oh god.

 

"You know who I am, Ana." It was the same voice, male, demanding, harsh, that was addressing her right now. No longer in her head, but literally in person.

 

How could this be happening? The alley had grown so dark Ana could barely see more than a few feet in front of her. If she was imagining this, then she was in no danger and she could turn around and walk away right now if she wanted to. If she wasn't imagining anything, and all of this was really happening, somehow the voice inside her head had manifested as a physical being, then there was nowhere to run except where the Voice was currently standing. It had shifted to that it was directly behind Ana. If she turned and ran, she would slam right into him.

 

 The alley was cut off at the end with a barbed wire fence. She would have no chance of getting over it, and would probably be hurting herself rather than making an escape. Ana had no choice, but-

 

"Turn around and face me." The Voice commanded, fury running as deep as the chill in Ana's veins.

 

"Who are you?" She sounded so small compared to the all-encompassing voice of the thing that had been residing in her subconscious for the past month. It didn't answer her of course, she hadn't expected it to.

 

"Turn. Around." It repeated, the only answer she knew she was ever going to get.

 

Closing her eyes for the briefest moment, she slowly turned.

 

 

Chapter Fifteen

It was like nothing she had ever seen before. It stood, fully erect, at seven feet tall. The appearance of its body was that of possibly a human skeleton, with a thin layer of skin stretched tightly against the bones, like its sharp structure was trying to force its way out. The skin itself was a sickly gray, the color of fog.

 

Its mouth was slightly parted, showing full, pointed teeth, much like a piranha's. Ana had the briefest flash of those teeth tearing into her, shredding her to bits like the vicious fish they resembled. She swallowed, quickly pushing the thought as far away as she could.

 

The worst of the creature though had to be its eyes. They were large and round, resembling human eyes, except they lacked color. They were as white as bone, and glowing fluorescent against its pallid skin and the darkness surrounding them.

 

Ana's heart pounded, slamming roughly against her ribs. This thing, whatever it was, had been inside of her fucking head. It had been resting in her body, giving her orders, telling her what to do, and she had listened to it for fuck's sake. What had she been thinking?!

 

"The answer is quite simple, Ana." When the creature spoke, its voice was just as calm and cool as when it had been inside of her head. Ana tensed, because despite that, she was staring at a creature straight from the depths of hell, it wanted something from her, and to top it off, it was pissed at her. And she knew it.

 

"I was thinking for you. You had no say it what you did or did not want to do. It didn't matter. The only thing that mattered, was me." It sneered proudly at her with its mouthful of triangular teeth.

 

Ana's anger returned with what the creature growled, the heat of fury replacing her cold fear.

 

"You have no right. Whatever you are, I do not belong to you. Go back to hell, where you came from." She said, a bit brazen for an eighteen year old staring at a demon. Probably a stupid move, but Ana was too pissed to realize that.

 

The creature smiled, a nasty grin that showed all of its razor sharp teeth. The newfound confidence that had sparked inside of her dimmed a bit, as the Voice reared its ugly head.

 

"You have no idea who you are dealing with."

 

"What are you?" Ana couldn't help but ask again, her fists clenched from the anger that she still held, while her legs strained to keep from shaking. The Voice's smile widened.

 

"I have come for you, Ana Walcott. Just like I came for your friends."

 

 

 

Chapter Sixteen

It was like someone had taken their fist and hit Ana in the gut as hard as they could. The creature was so cocky, when it told her it had come for her friends, it was smiling, its teeth shining and glowing like its eyes. So proud of what it had done.

 

"You . . ." Ana couldn't even speak.

 

How could this be? If this thing was a figment of her imagination (which she was highly doubting considering she could actually feel the heat radiating off its body), then it was telling her that it had killed Lisa and Kristen.

 

"How-" She was trying so hard to put all the pieces together, to get her thoughts to grind forward so that she could comprehend what was going on. But every time she looked at the creature, all parts of her that were rational went soaring out of her reach.

 

"It's so complex isn't it? The world, this life. If you think about it Ana, life is a very fragile thing. Not so easy to give, but exceptionally easy to take away." The thing was literally baring down on her with how massive it was. When it spoke, its hot breath washed over her face, smelling like death and decay.

 

Ana's stomach churned, and when the thing leaned down and was literally two inches away from her face, she couldn’t help it, she flinched away in horror and disgust.

 

"You've been searching so long for the source of your friends' demise. I will at least provide you with that before you die." It said in almost a kind, conversational tone. Like they were talking about what shirt would go well with the shoes Ana was wearing.

 

Her eyes widened and she opened her mouth, but it spoke before her.

 

"Finding you all was easy. Getting you all alone was even easier. It's amazing what girls will do when a handsome man comes into the picture."

 

Ana still wasn't quite comprehending what it was saying, but at the mention of that, her stomach took a downwards spiral to her feet. Kristen was the only one out of the three of them who had had a boyfriend . . .

 

"Everything is connected."

 

"That's impossible." She stated. They had known Kristen's boyfriend for about a month, the had even seen the two kiss for Christ's sake. That couldn’t have been this thing standing in front of her right now.

 

"You poor, naïve girl." It mused, then to her utter horror, it reached up and took a lock of her hair between two long, skeletal fingers.

 

"In a way, I pity you." The creature twisted her hair between its fingers, clockwise, then counterclockwise, over and over again. With its every movement, it felt like hundreds of tiny bugs were crawling across Ana's skin, she had the overwhelming urge to scream and writhe, just to get the thing to let her go.

 

"You always want to look for the good in people, in the world. You would've never guessed that just because you look for the good, doesn't mean it's going to find you." The monster tugged roughly on the chunk of hair it held, and Ana screamed in surprise.

 

The thing was now leaning down so that they were face to face. The creature had pulled her so close that their foreheads were resting against each other. With the contact, the bugs she seemed to feel skittered even faster over every surface of her body. Ana began to shake.

 

 

 

Chapter Seventeen

"Let go of me." She managed to say in a fairly strong voice.

 

 The monster's grin only widened, showing off its rows of glowing teeth.

 

"What's stopping me from killing you right now? From reaching my hand inside of your chest and tearing through your heart just like I had your pitiful friends?"

 

Ana's stomach dropped like she had just been on a roller coaster going down, down, down. She had to hold her breath to keep from throwing up. This couldn't be possible, it just couldn't . . .

 

"Why don't I show you just how possible this is?" The creature's milky white eyes gleamed, as he let go of her hair and its fingertips glided to a stop at her chest, directly over her heart.

 

In response, her heart pounded wildly in fear. If this thing could so easily rip through human flesh like it was nothing, then she was inches away from meeting the same fate as Lisa and Kristen. Ana wasn't about to let that happen. She had to stall him. She was a smart girl, she was nineteen years old, what nineteen year old didn't know how to buy themselves some time?

 

Slowly, Ana reached forward and placed her own palm on the monster's chest, above where its heart should've been. Its skin was slimy and cold, even though the creature radiated heat. Underneath Ana's hand, she felt nothing. No pulse whatsoever.

 

Ana's mouth went completely dry. How could something clearly real and in the flesh in front of you, be living and breathing without a pulse? It couldn't.

 

The monster's lip curled, pleased at her startled reaction. "Surprised? Creatures like me, we don't have heartbeats. We don't even have a heart. You see, we feed off of the hearts of others. Eating parts of their hearts construct our very own beating vessel. Midway through our lifespan we should have a fully built heart, and we shall begin the transition to something so much more powerful than what we are now."

 

Ana's heart wouldn't stop its loud, frightful rhythm of terror. With this news, it was pounding faster and even more frantic than before. It wanted to eat her heart.

 

"I wonder what yours tastes like." The creature mused, leaning in to sniff at her chest.

 

She couldn't take it anymore. She wasn't about to be dinner handing itself to this hellish being.

 

With a shrill scream, Ana launched herself at the beast. Its back slammed against the bricks of the alley way making a small thump.

 

Ana barely skimmed the monster's shoulders, but she used all of her body weight to pin it to the wall. She was gritting her teeth while the creature was just smiling at her, contented somehow even how things had turned out. She got the sinking feeling that it was just playing her, and that it was a lot more powerful than it was letting on.

 

Oh who was Ana kidding? It was strong enough to get inside her head and then manifest itself in front of her. She knew she was as good as dead, but that didn't mean she wasn't going to go out kicking and screaming.

 

"I admire the fight in you Ana. It's something that the other two girls lacked. They didn't even try to struggle, it's as if they knew that it was the end for them." The monster recalled joyfully.

 

Ana's chest filled with the familiar emptiness that had really never left, but her rage at this creature overwhelmed any other present feeling. That, and the will to survive. She was not leaving this alley in a body bag, she would be walking out with her life no matter what.

 

Even though it probably wasn't the best thing to say, and was immature as could possibly be, it was the only thing that Ana could get out without bursting into furious and sorrowful tears.

 

"Fuck you."

 

The monster erupted into laughter. Hissing-nails on a chalkboard-laughter. It reached up and squeezed Ana's shoulders in its hands as it laughed, and as easily as you would flick a bug off your arm, flung her to the other side of the alley where her back and head bounced off the bricks. 

 

A sharp jolt of pain heated up the back of Ana's head and her spine. She felt a warm stream of blood flowing from her head to her neck and into her shirt. A sense of déjà vu threatened to flood her mind, but she pushed it back. There was absolutely no time. Ana knew, without a doubt, that she was now in a fight for her life. A fight that Lisa and Kristen had lost. Ana was ready to bring justice to her friends, and to clear her own name. 

Chapter Eighteen

"So intelligent yet so utterly stupid at the same time." The monster said as it knelt down so that it was at eye level with Ana who was reduced to lying on her butt on the ground, her own blood pooling on the dirty surface.

 

"Even though you are very entertaining, I haven't eaten in a while and I'm starting to get hungry." The creature gripped Ana's chin with it's supposed thumb and forefinger, digging into her skin and sending little shots of harsh pain to coincide with the other agony she was already experiencing.

 

A sense of dread slowly crept up on Ana, attempting to fill her altogether. She wasn't ready to give up yet though. There was one thing the creature had said before that Ana was hoping she was right about. If the monster was constructing its own heart, then shouldn't there be something existing inside of its chest? Keeping it alive for the time being? If so, all she had to do was harm it. Now the real question was . . . how?

 

"It's been quite a thrill being inside of your mind Ana Walcott, but unfortunately all adventures must come to an end at some point."

 

The monster suddenly thrust its fingertips into the skin of Ana's chest directly above her heart, literally puncturing her skin and causing blood to gush out, onto the creature, and onto herself. Ana screamed as waves upon waves of fiery pain assaulted her, but she willed herself to lift her hands up and shove with all her might against the creature's shoulders. It lurched slightly backward, but it was enough room for her.

 

Ana jumped with all the strength she had left and using her shoulder, pushed the monster up against the brick wall. The impact had caused the creature's hand to dig even deeper into the flesh of her chest. The pain was excruciating and all consuming, but she focused on what she had to do. The monster was still holding on to Ana's face, and she saw her opening.

 

 Staring into blinding eyes that were as empty and hollow as a husk, and as white bone, Ana gripped its hand hard and shoved the sharp fingers straight through the creature's chest. Surprise registered on its face for one moment, before its features contorted in one of rage.

 

"How dare you?!" It shrieked, but Ana knew that now things would finally end.

 

"Your adventure may be ending, but mine is just beginning." Ana said, and twisted the monster's hand deeper into its chest, causing the thing to scream in agony.

 

Rancid blood poured from the creature's wound, pooling at their feet. It was black, like oil, and as the creature struggled against Ana in an effort to get her off, she could see its white eyes fading in intensity.

 

With a scream of pain and the fight to stay alive, the monster sank down to the ground, taking her with him. Its hand was still shoved firmly in her chest, she was not looking forward to getting that out. And with every move the thing made, its fingers went deeper in her skin.

 

Ana flinched as the light completely left the monster's eyes, and they became completely black, like its blood. It twitched a few more seconds before falling completely limp on the hot concrete, leaning against the brick. It had smeared the wall of the alley with its inky blood, and behind Ana her own blood was on the opposite wall.

 

The monster hadn't stopped screaming, and now the silence left a prominent ringing in her ears. Ana fell to her bottom on the ground and gently tugged against the creatures fingers locked in her chest.

 

Even the slightest prodding caused her whole body to constrict in numbing pain. The alley around her began to swim, the colors swirling together until they were all just one big gray mush. Ana had the sense of falling and a sharper pain in her head before she completely lost all sight of what was around her. She heard someone scream, and then she was out.

Chapter Nineteen

The police arrived at the scene only two hours after the monster's death. A young woman on the street had reported a girl she thought to be Ana Walcott lying in an alley. It looked like she had been attacked by some sort of animal, the carcass lying next to the teenager.

 

Ana's picture had been broadcasted across the news as a missing person for the past two days. When the police heard of a sighting, they didn't waste any time getting there.

 

It was one of the oddest things Detective Morris had ever seen when he arrived on the scene. The girl he had talked to a few weeks ago, the girl who he knew in his gut did not murder the McCain and Kelleher girls, was lying in a puddle of blood and black muck in an alley way in Manhattan, just a few minutes away from her home.

 

That wasn't what was odd about it though. The odd thing was the mutant creature lying next to her. It was like something out of a sci-fi movie. It was a decaying skeletal body with gray skin, curled up with its one hand shoved deep in its chest, the source of where the black gunk was coming from. Its eyes were round and black, and its mouth was open wide in its final scream, showing sharp, triangular teeth that came to a point.

 

"Detective Morris." One of the police officers came over to the detective, distracting Morris from the creature. It was a lower officer, so Morris did not recognize him.

 

"Where are the paramedics?" Detective Morris asked the smaller officer whose nametag said Ryan Lincoln.

 

Lincoln's blue eyes were tinged with surprise, this was obviously one of his first cases. He floundered for a second under Morris's dark and demanding gaze, but finally gathered his wits to provide an answer.

 

"Oh, um on their way sir."

 

Morris nodded. "What's the status on the girl?"

 

"Alive, Detective." Officer Lincoln said proudly, as if he had saved the Walcott girl's life.

 

But the officer's unrightfully cockiness didn't matter. Detective Morris felt a slight sense of relief knowing that Ana was still alive, although he wasn't about to rest easy until she was actually in the hospital and until they knew what the fuck that thing on the ground next to her was.

 

"We have to get the animal's claws out of her before she can be removed from the scene, Detective." Officer Lincoln informed.

 

Morris hadn't seen any wound of such on the girl when he looked. Scowling, he moved closer to Ana, and realized with a roll of disgust in his stomach that the officer was right. The creature's hand was firmly planted in Ana's chest, and her blood would not stop dripping from it.

 

"Goddamn, they better get here lickety-fucking-split." 

Chapter Twenty

Ana had a dream for the first time in weeks. She dreamt of darkness, and white eyes coming out of that darkness. Staring at her in agonized fury as their color began to drain, before they promptly vanished, replaced with two new pairs of eyes, one vibrant green and the other warm brown.

 

She blinked as the darkness began to recede, revealing the very much alive figures of Lisa and Kristen. Ana gasped, feeling a lump in her throat make it hard for her to speak. The girls were so close that if she reached out a hand she could touch them. Ana knew she had to say something, had to tell them how much she missed them, but when she opened her mouth to do so Kristen reached out and placed her finger over Ana's lips, quietly murmuring, "Shh."

 

Kristen smiled, removing her hand. "We've missed you so much."

 

Lisa reached out and took Ana in her arms, giving her a little squeeze. "It's not the same without you." She whispered, pulling back and smiling, but the smile was tinged with sadness.

 

They both felt so solid, so real. As if they were both alive and they were all together again, in Kristen's room because she had the biggest one out of all of them, gossiping, raiding the closet, laughing, having a wonderful time like they always did.

 

The darkness around the girls had drained completely from where they were, and as Ana realized with a start they weren't standing on anything. Rather, they were floating. On puffy white clouds, in a sky as blue as the water in the ocean. It was so beautiful and pure, Ana had to stifle another gasp which abruptly turned into a quiet sob.

 

"Hey", Kristen came forward and wrapped her arms around Ana, pulling back and keeping one of them draped around Ana's shoulders. "Don't worry, we're fine here. We're happy. You don’t have to worry about us anymore."

 

Hearing Kristen's kind, reassuring voice just made it harder to choke down the tears. It felt like a fist was clamped tightly around her throat, and getting tighter and tighter with everything Ana's friends said.

 

"How?" She managed to get out, sounding like someone who had scratched up their throat by screaming too much, or crying.

 

Lisa's soft green eyes enveloped her in their warmth and secureness. She was always the voice of reason out of the three, always the one to tell them when to quit while they were ahead. She was the safe one, the one who tried to make sure they were always safe. They had always thought of Lisa as the wet blanket of the group, the one who would rather stay at home and watch movies instead of going out to the party where everyone was going to be.

 

Ana and Kristen had always wondered why she was like that, but now Ana understood. Lisa loved the two girls like sisters, and wanted to protect them like family because of the troubles and traumas that had occurred in her own family. Now Ana had the same urge, to wrap them up in her arms and never let them go, to protect them from all things evil that could possibly hurt them.

 

Somewhere though, deep down inside, Ana knew that they were already gone, and no amount of protection she could provide could help now. They were much farther away than she could ever reach.

 

A few tears began trickling down her face and falling to the white fluffiness at her feet. Lisa reached out and wiped away Ana's tears, her face regaining the sadness from earlier, and something apologetic as well.

 

"We're sorry we left you." Lisa said to Ana, and Kristen hugged her close to her body, trying to give Ana some of her warmth.

 

"It's not your fault. It's mine." Ana sniffled, not wanting pity or anything from her long gone friends. The guilt from their deaths came crashing down on her full force, and she had to force yourself to get the words out of her constricted throat. "You're gone, and I did nothing to keep you safe or protect you. It's all my fault."

 

"Hey!" Kristen nudged her and Lisa furiously shook her head. "Don't think of it that way. We may not be where you are anymore, but that's only because we've moved on. We've entered into the next chapter of our existence. Someday you'll be here with us too, and we can all be together again. The Three Amigos, remember?" Kristen spoke in a manner that was matter of fact, and in a nostalgic uplifting tone, using the nickname they had given themselves in the third grade when they had declared all for one and one for all, friends for life.

 

Ana laughed, amazingly she managed a laugh. It was real, genuine, the kind that she and the girls had shared countless times in the past. They had laughed over school, dances, movies, tests, grades, boys, never had Ana thought they would end up where they were now. Up on a cloud, in the sky, her the only one living and breathing.

 

"We have to go soon." Lisa said, that same sad and sorry look on her face. She brought Ana into one more hug, burying her face in Ana's hair and whispering in her ear. "You're going to live a great life Ana Walcott, just like we all said we would."

 

She pulled away and Ana shook her head, her voice trembling. "But you're both not alive to live it with me."

 

Kristen and Lisa both exchanged a glance, smiled, and said at the same time, "Live it for us."

 

And with one more hug from Kristen, the girls took their places side by side and they both waved goodbye to her.

 

 "We love you Ana, friends for life!" Lisa exclaimed happily.

 

"The Three Amigos!" Kristen shouted joyously with a smile.

 

Their figures began fading rapidly, fading,  fading, until Ana could barely make out their silhouettes. It was as if they were travelling backward through a tunnel, and disappearing quickly before her very eyes. She knew this was the last time she would ever see them, and she began to panic.

 

"Wait!" Ana screamed, reaching out to them. But they were miles away by now, their figures mere spots in the brightness that began to get brighter, shining like a light forced in your face, until it was too bright for Ana's eyes. She shielded her face with her arm, squinting and struggling to see. She said one more thing before the brightness overwhelmed her. "Wait!"

Chapter Twenty One

Her eyes fluttered open, and she saw a hospital room quite opposite from the one she had woken up in the day Lisa and Kristen were discovered. This room is bigger, with windows looking out to the gardens of the hospital. There are flowers, balloons, and teddy bears on both side tables shouldering Ana's bed, and the room was packed with people. Her whole family, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, parents, even her older brother Ryan had ventured all the way from Florida to be here. There was also Detective Morris, sitting down with a cup of coffee in his hand and casually talking with her parents, smiling and laughing like she'd never seen before. Ana gasped, and all heads turned her way.

 

"She's awake!" Her little cousin Emma squealed delightedly, and scrambled over to jump on the foot of Ana's bed. She went to hug Ana, but was promptly scolded by Aunt Josie.

 

"Emma careful! Let Ana rest for Heaven's sake."

 

Josie gasped and said Emma's name harshly when the little girl ignored her mother and promptly jumped forward and hugged her cousin.

 

Ana winced, pain stung deep in her chest and reverberated up to her head with the contact. Aunt Josie sprang forward and quickly pulled the little girl off of Ana, but Ana ended up laughing, a decision that also sparked pain throughout her body.

 

"It's okay, it didn't really hurt." She lied, but the answering smile on Emma's face and the smirk she gave her mother saying I was right, was definitely worth it.

 

Her aunt and cousin moved away to make room for her parents, brother, and Detective Morris who all made their way around Ana's bed. They weren't looking at her accusingly or with tight faced worry like they had the last time she was in a hospital room, but rather with glowing compassion and almost admiration. It came as another shock to Ana, and she blinked a few times to make sure she was really awake.

 

"How are you feeling sweetie?" Mrs. Walcott asked, taking Ana's hand in her warm fingers.

 

Ana contemplated lying for her mom's benefit, but just decided to be truthful. "Crappy."

 

Her father chuckled, her mom's forehead crinkled with worry, and her brother Ryan cracked a wide smile.

 

"You always were a trooper, kiddo." He said, and punched her very gently on the arm.

 

Even though Ryan was twenty two, only a few years older than her, he had always called her "kid" or "kiddo". Normally it irritated the hell out of Ana, but right now she was just about ready to cry seeing him and the rest of her family all crammed into one room, there and not grilling her with questions or accusations. All of them just together, happy, a family.

 

The only person who was there that wasn't a part of the family was Detective Morris, and Ana turned to him. Her expression must've gave way to a million questions, and he started with one.

 

"Your charges have been dropped. The labs did recon and found separate DNA, matched with the assailant we found along with you in Manhattan, and the assailant's prints and blood on the two victims." He informed her, in a low yet sharp tone, indicating this was not information he was comfortable sharing, especially with her whole family in the room, but was telling her anyway.

 

A flutter of gratitude warmed Ana's aching chest, and she nodded minutely. She understood that it was a discussion for another time, just not now.

 

"When will I be able to leave?" This question was directed at her parents. The warm glow on her mother's face dimmed, and her father's face hardened.

 

"Two weeks baby, but don't worry we'll be here every day." Her mother said, giving a reassuring squeeze of Ana's hand.

 

Ana was slightly disappointed, however she nodded and laid back, sighing. She would finally be able to relax. She had cleared her name. She had done it.

 

"Let's let the girl get some sleep." Her father put his hands on her mother's shoulders and gently eased her away. Her mom reluctantly agreed.

 

"Of course." She leaned forward and planted a kiss on Ana's forehead. Another thing normally Ana couldn't stand because it made her feel like a child, but at the moment she would've rather been a child than a nineteen year old who had just nearly been killed by god knows what.

 

Detective Morris nodded minutely at her as he filed out of the room with everyone else. Once the room was empty, it still felt very warm and cozy and filled with happiness that Ana was alive and moderately well.

 

Even though she could tell by the bits of light streaming through the blinds on the window that it was about midday, Ana realized that she could easily fall asleep. She snuggled further into the bed and pulled the blankets up to her chin, closing her eyes.

 

Images flashed behind her lids. Empty white stares, a darkness surrounding her, and then suddenly all of that was gone and replaced with Lisa and Kristen. They were smiling at Ana, giving her the thumbs up, and telling her that they loved her.

Chapter Twenty Two

Ana sat up in bed, her head and heart pounding. She swung her legs over, feeling the soft carpet under her bare feet. Lawrence stirred behind her, groggily waking up and looking at her with bleary brown eyes.

 

"You okay baby?"

 

Ana nodded even though she wasn't too sure herself. She hadn't dreamt or thought about for that matter of the day after she had killed the Monster, for years. She wasn't sure why her subconscious had drudged up those images for her to relive. It gave her chills, and Lawrence reached out and gently touched Ana's shoulder.

 

"Are you sure?"

 

She turned to look at him and gave him a small reassuring smile. "I'm fine honey. I'm just gonna get a drink."

 

Ana stood and made her way down the steps to their small kitchen. She grabbed a random glass from the cabinet that she hoped was clean enough. Sometimes Krista didn't clean the dishes properly. She usually just yelled, "All done, Mommy!" after only rinsing them out with water.

 

Ana filled up the glass from the tap and took a sip, still stuck on her dream. It was strange for her to dream about the encounter with the Monster she had had when she was nineteen.

 

She looked out the window above the sink, at the moon still high up in the night sky. It must've been only a little bit after midnight. Ana had gone to bed at ten. The dream seemed to last much longer than just two hours.

 

Ana sighed and dumped the rest of her drink down the drain, placing the glass in the sink. When she had killed the Monster, that was the closest encounter she had ever had with a demon. That's what she believed it was anyway. It sure wasn't anything she had ever seen before in her life, and she never needed to see one again.

 

Now at twenty five, she still remembered every detail from that night. The words said, the fight with the Monster where only one of them could live, and the dream with her long deceased friends Lisa McCain and Kristen Kelleher.

 

The dream was something she didn't fully remember until a few days after she had been released from the hospital after being patched up from her encounter with the Monster. Ana  had a few jagged scars forever imprinted on her chest, right where her heart was. Marking the place where the demon had sank its claws into her.

 

Ana's fingers ghosted over her chest where the scars were, shivering. She never heard any voice again, and she never told anyone that the Monster had gotten inside her head. It was something that made her skin crawl to even think about, so it was something she just never shared. Ana never even told Lawrence.

 

Her eyes flitted to their wedding picture hanging on the wall, and then the picture directly beside that of her, Lawrence, and their daughter Krista. She smiled, thinking of her bubbly little girl with the name that was a mixture of the names Lisa and Kristen, in honor of Ana's brave friends.

 

"Mommy?" Ana turned to see Krista standing in her nightgown in the doorway to the kitchen, clutching her favorite teddy bear and rubbing her eyes.

 

"What's the matter sweetie?" Ana knelt down, brushing Krista's curly brown hair out of her eyes.

 

"I had a bad dream and I went into yours and Daddy's room but you weren't there." Tears were glistening in Krista's green eyes, and Ana's heart melted.

 

"Oh honey I'm sorry. C'mon." Ana scooped up Krista and held her in her arms, making her way back to the bedroom.

 

 "Why don't we get some sleep?" She said, but Krista had already dozed off. Ana smiled at her sweet daughter as she walked down the hall.

 

Ana took Krista to her daughter's small pink bedroom, laying her down on her bed and kissing her on the forehead before returning to Ana's master bedroom where Lawrence laid snoring. She returned next to her husband, who threw his arm around her waist as he turned around, sleeping soundly.

 

Ana smiled, closing her eyes and feeling that sleep was actually closer than she thought. Her life now had changed so much since that night in the alley way of Manhattan, facing off with the demon who had claimed the lives of her two friends. Today, Ana had no regrets. The only thing she wished had been different was that Lisa and Kristen were alive to be with her today, as her two very best friends. But she had them in her dreams, visiting her every now and then. All of that was her past, and even though she would never forget it, Ana was focused on moving forward. Despite everything that had happened, she wouldn't trade her life for the world.

Impressum

Tag der Veröffentlichung: 25.11.2013

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