Chapter 1: The Victim
I was running, my heart beating in my ears. They were coming for me. I looked behind me to see who was chasing me and—
I woke up in a cold sweat.
The pounding ache in my legs faded. That was the sixth time I’d had that dream. It always ended with me dying.
I jumped into the shower, letting the warm water clear my head. After I got ready for school, I checked for everything—car keys, pepper spray, phone, lip gloss, and of course, my bag.
As I headed out the door, I felt like someone was watching me.
I turned. It was just Lucky, my German Shepherd and ex-police dog, standing in the doorway with sad eyes. I kissed him on the forehead and whispered goodbye.
The school staircase looked longer and more cracked than usual. As I started walking up, I heard screaming.
I ran toward it.
A girl was on the floor, surrounded by a group of students. Her glasses were shattered, and a pencil stuck grotesquely out of her eye. Blood poured from the wound.
I froze. Then I bolted to find a teacher.
When help arrived and the girl was taken care of, I finally made my way to my friends—Emily and the others—hoping for a break from the chaos.
They were laughing.
Mocking.
Imitating the girl’s screams.
I turned and looked back at the ambulance just as the girl—Becca—was being loaded in. Her good eye was glaring straight at my friends.
I had to change the subject.
“Hey, we’re still watching horror movies in Messenger Woods, right?” I asked, trying to sound normal.
“Yeah! It’s gonna be awesome!” Emily grinned.
That night, I got ready anyway. Lip gloss. Blankets. Snacks. Another blanket for good measure. I stuffed everything into my purse and crept toward the door.
“Cat, where do you think you’re going?” my mom asked from the couch, her glasses slipping and her brown hair in a messy bun.
“T-to hang out with my friends…”
“You’re not going. They’re a bad influence.”
I opened my mouth to argue. Nothing came out. She wasn’t wrong.
“Yes, ma’am,” I said and dragged myself upstairs.
While I unpacked everything, the doorbell rang.
“CAN YOU GET THAT?” Mom yelled.
I ran downstairs and opened the door.
It was the girl from school.
Becca.
Her cracked glasses had been replaced. A patch covered one eye.
“Hi,” she said softly. “I just… wanted to say thank you.”
I stood frozen. No one ever came to my house.
“Do you want to come in?” I asked, already stepping aside. “My mom’s making spaghetti.”
She nodded.
“I’m Cat, by the way. What’s your name?”
“Becca. Becca Benn.”
