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There are some nights I can't sleep without thinking. Usually, I just think of random thoughts, and then . . . there's him. I call him, the shadow. I don't know what he is, why he's here, and where he came from. All I know is that he's following me. Waiting. Waiting for what? Nothing, I guess. It's horrifying, just seeing that shadow close to me. It's not my shadow, I'm feminine. The shadow is male, and it's a good few feet behind me, but I know it's there. Sometimes in my sleep, I'll feel it breathe . . . all the way down my neck, sending chills up my spine. Has there ever been a second where it hasn't came across my mind? No. It's always there, waiting, watching, listening, ready to pounce.
The sun escaped through my window bearing the heat onto me. It was Monday, the awful day of the week. I waited silently for my mom to come in. "Rise and shine!!!" my mom busted in. Happy. Cheerful. It sickened me. She was happy no matter what. I bet if I broke her toe, her smile wouldn't fade from the face of the person I loved. "Cough, cough. Mom I think I'm sick," I lied through my teeth. She raised up and eyebrow and widened her grin. "I guess you can help me with chores today. Even though you have no school today," she chirped. "What, no school? When," I gasped. She ignored my question and flitted downstairs. "What's wrong with that woman," I questioned under my breath.
I walked outside into the cool afternoon air. Fall. Of course. I waved goodbye to my mom, and started walking to mine and Kate's meeting place. "Heyyyy sleepyhead, you're late," she said, furrowing her brow. "Sorry, my mom chirped me today," I said cheeks hot with embarrassment. She guffawed and went on, "Anyways Jen, you should have brushed your hair, it looks like a rat nest . . . no offense."
My cheeks flooded red and my eyebrow furrowed, but smoothed out just as quick. "No need for your snide remarks Kate, I need help," I confided. I told her everything, but this was something I'd kept for the longest. I told her everything about Mr. Shadow.
I looked back and there was the shadow, it flitted around the corner like Mom. I glanced back at Kate, and she nodded. I sprinted. Faster and faster. I could feel Kate on my heels. Big feet. "Hey big foot, back up some, you might rip my ankles off," I snorted. Her pace lightened, and my ankles felt relieved. I could feel the warmth of her breath on my neck, gross. I personally hated when people breathed on me. The shadow was a mere 3 feet ahead of me. Squinting, I tried to find the owner of it, but corner after corner every two seconds made it harder.
A weird scent wreathed around me. "Press harder," urged the unknown. I skidded to a halt, and clumsily, Kate fell into me. "Will you watch where you're going,' she screeched, annoyed. I silently shook my head, and waited for the words to speak. "He's at Park Avenue. Take the bus," it whispered. "but I don't have any-" I said, being cut off. My coat pocket felt heavier. I reached my hand slowly in, and took it back out. I opened my palm slightly. More. More and more until I saw a few shiny bus tokens.
Kate, and I leaped off of the bus and noticed the shadow. We sprinted towards it, but sadly, I sprinted past it. I heard a deafening yell. My eyes flitted back and saw Kate being dragged over the sidewalk. My hand instinctively went for hers, and I tugged. "Let her go, she'll be safe," the voice wreathed heavenly around me, this time, like a flower. So soothing. I did as it told and let go. I watched it slip her away from my grasp, the sight of her tears. I noticed her nose was bleeding. Probably where she smacked her face on the sidewalk and it grabbed her leg and pulled. I sat down, waiting for any chance it would come back, or Kate would walk around the corner and say, "Whatcha doin' silly head?" But no, she wasn't going to come around the corner, the shadow wasn't going to bring her back, I had to take action myself. "Do you want her back," it breathed. "More than anything," I whisper back, hoping no one thought I was a crazy person for "talking to myself." "Follow my instruction," it demanded. I nodded.
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