Another word, and you die.

Chapter one

I walked outside, into the warm sun, of the mid summer morning, to get the mail. Three bills and a package. Inside my mom was cooking the one meal she could make without burning. Lucky me right?

"Here," I held out the bills, and set the package on the island of our kitchen.

"What is it?" My mom asked without looking at me or my hand.

"umm, a bill from Time Warner Cable, Verizon... and I tunes, I think." I looked up to see my mom with her hands on her hip. Oh god, here comes trouble Heidi. I scratched my head, this woman was making me very uncomfortable.

"What?" I blurted out throwing out my hands.

"You know what, don't even think about looking at me like that."

Yeah I knew what she was talking about alright. I went over my minutes, and downloaded, lets just say a little more than needed on my cell last month. And my mom wasn't really a happy camper about it. Then, I tunes,...well I had them put the bill on my moms card, and that kind of was the icing on the cake. She held out her hand and stared at my face. It was that look that made you feel like a bug under a microscope. I handed her the two bills, but she still had her hand out. What the heck? Uhmm...? I started reaching for my phone, hoping that's not what she wanted.

" The damn package!" She yelled. Well excuse me! You didn't tell me that's what you wanted!

"Dang! Pop a pill!" I used the line from paranormal activity, she hated it.

"Pop a pill my ass." She recited. And I laughed handing her the package.

She took a knife out of the drawer and opened the package hastily. She just stared at it. Well okay then.

" What's in it?" I asked her leaning over the counter to get a peak.

" None of your business that's what."

"Very mature." I rolled my eyes. I reached in the box and snatched out the first thing I felt. Woo! A envelope with....My name on it.

My mom snatched it out of my hand. This may have been a little mellow dramatic if it was under different circumstances.

My name was on the envelope. Like my REAL name. clear as day.

Heidi Johansson. Johansson is my fathers last name. He murdered my mom, but didn't get the chance to get to me. He's in prison for life. I'm adopted, so I am Heidi Jackson. I personally think my first and last name sound horrible together.

"Okay that has my name on it, not yours so hand it over." I held my hand out.

"When you're the adult then we'll talk. There's a box, like a jewelry box. Kind of ugly if you ask me."

"Someone's feisty today." I grinned. I knew why she didn't want me looking at the box before she did. When my dad was in prison about four years ago, he sent a package, well had a outsider send it, with pictures, of gruesome images. My mom, my 'real' mom, dead gutted. But the worst part was, That I was in the background of the photo. There was also a letter, saying he was sorry. Sorry that he wouldn't stop until we were reunited, so we could be a family again. He wants to finish the job by putting me with my mother. I was ten years old then. Getting my first real mail, I was exited to get it open all by myself. But after that, I went into a breakdown. At ten years old, my mother got a body guard, and I didn't say anything for weeks. And I didn't go to school for weeks. I blinked hard at the memory.

" When your done looking through it, I want to see it." I turned to walk away. I stopped at the doorway and over my shoulder called " Bacons burning!" There was a low 'Shit!' and I laughed. Like I said, my mom can't cook.

" Are you not going to eat before school? I made you breakfast," She smiled. She knew I wasn't going to eat. I knew she wasn't going to eat it. It break our teeth at how hard it was.

"Nahh I'm fine. I got to go, I'll be late. Call the office?"

My mom nodded and I grabbed my book bag and looked at myself in the hallway mirror. My long brown hair was curling at the ends from the humidity outside. I fixed my blouse and playfully winked at my self in the mirror. Lets see what trouble I can get into today.

When I was outside I took a deep breath of the Minnesota air. And then a annoying voice was behind me.

" Heidi, are you walking today?" I turned around to see Bentley tying his shoes.

" Yes sir. Showing up, to the fifth day of high school, on foot." I rolled my eyes. We had two hour delay today for teachers meeting, and I was still going to be late which made it worse. I looked Bentley up and down. He was something to look at. Brown hair, blue eyes, sun tanned skin. But he was like my brother, so umm no!

"I'm coming. Let me grab my bag." With that he ran inside. I looked at his yard. His grass was yellow, and the use to be flower bed, had a squirrel digging. I usually didn't see a squirrel dig. I laughed, it was to cute.

"Let's go!" Bentley grabbed my arm and we were off to school. When we were in town, his phone rang, and he huffed. His eyes flashed.

"Andrea." He explained. I smiled. It was his complicated girlfriend, that was slightly obsessed.

"Hey babe',"

"Oh really?"

"Ahh, I was going to as-"

"I love you, yes, but maybe we shou-"

I laughed and kept walking. I was about to look for my chap stick when I bumped into something. A person.

" Oh I am so sorry! Are you o-" I stopped talking and looked into the face of the person in front of me.

He had shoulder link long brown hair, and a beard, and a mustache which didn't look very clean. He had deep green eyes, and looked to be at least forty. He was wearing a long leather coat. He was just staring at me. And honestly it was kind of scary.

"I umm-" I shook my head and moved around him. I walked faster and faster, and after a minute I turned around to see the man standing there, still watching me.