Chasing Monsters

CHAPTER 3

I wake up with a jolt and lay shivering, even though I have a thick quilt laying over the top of me. I just can't get the dream out of my mind. The girl...and the man...Jeff was his name. Jeff the Killer. And the message..."Come visit me soon." Those words keep burning in my mind. It's like they were directed at me...but how? I don't even know the guy! Yet he must know you, my mind whispers back at me. "Come visit me soon." Was it for me? What does it mean?

After awhile, the thoughts and questions bouncing around my brain force me to get up. I walk down the (How does he know me?) stairs and (Does he want me to meet him somewhere?) am greeted by (What does he want with me?) silence. Strange. Usually my adopted mother is making noise in the kitchen and singing to herself quietly. Today however...silence. I tense up and tiptoe through the kitchen to the living room.

The living room is empty too. With my heart in my mouth, I cross the living room and put my hand on her bedroom door. Taking a deep breath, I push open the door. it swings open with a creak and I peek inside. Empty. All my fears of murderers and kidnappers suddenly rushes through my head and I turn and run across the living room, through the kitchen, and up the stairs to my room. I lock the door and dive under my bed blindly searching for my cellphone, so I can call the police.

As soon as my hand closes around my phone, there's a knock at my door. I freeze and listen hard, seeing in my mind the man from my dreams standing on the other side of it. "Are you alright, honey? I thought I heard footsteps downstairs." My adopted mother's voice drifts through the door.

I breathe a sigh of relief and drop my phone, running to unlock the door. Once it's unlocked, I open the door and throw myself at her. She staggers, not expecting my hug, and then wraps her arms around me. "Well, that was unexpected," she says and I smile. We break apart and I notice her hair is wet. She must have just gotten out of the shower. Wait, what time is it? I pick up my phone and check the time. 8:00. Cool. That means I have time to go on a jog before the day starts.