SPOTLIGHT - THE BOOK

Chapter 1 - Sweet Dreams

- "Exhausting day today?"
...
- "Cassidy?"

- "Huh? What?" She dozed off again.

Cassidy and Mary had started freshman year of college, and, like all new adventures, it wasn't without the usual issues. After high school, their group separated and they haven't talked in weeks. While Mary has accustomed to the college life, Cassidy is struggling with maintaining a healthy sleep schedule.

- "Have you slept? At all?" Mary asked her. Cassidy blinked and squinted her eyes at her.

- "What?" Cassidy questioned, to Mary's concern.

Mary sighed.
- "Cassidy, you need sleep." She sat beside her in her yellow polka-dotted bed.

Mary and Cassidy, as best friends, chose to become dorm mates in college, and they're happy rooming together. The only problem is that Cassidy makes quite a bit of noise during the night. Mary swears it doesn't bother her, but she loses sleep sometimes as well.

"Don't think I haven't noticed how you've been the past few days. You look like a zombie." Cassidy snorted but Mary didn't break her frown.

"I...I'm sorry Mary, I'm trying but...it's just been so difficult. How do you manage this?"

"I've managed worse. But I can't help but feel concerned for you. Yesterday, I woke up at 4 am to you drinking coffee." She put her hand on her cheek. "It isn't a one time-thing, either."

Cassidy looked away in silence.

"But hey, you have all night to sleep." Mary put her hand on Cassidy's shoulder. "Relax. You have all weekend to settle down and do your assignments. Spend the night sleeping." Mary got up and turned off the dorm light. "Have a good night. And sleep. Please."  She advised.

"I'll try. Thanks, Mary." Cassidy thanked her with appreciation and an empty smile.

"Sleep, Cassidy. Sleep." She begged to herself.

Cassidy closed her eyes and fell asleep.
During her sleep, she thought of her friends, how they had grown apart, her assignments, how they grew insignificant as she entered a deep slumber. As her thoughts turned to darkness, she could almost hear a voice...

"Cassidy?"

"Cassidy!"

"Cassidy, wake up!"

She awoke with a gasp, with Mary crouched in front of her. But she wasn't in her bed, or her dorm, or her college at all. She was somewhere new, somewhere scarier.

End of chapter 1.