Chapter 22

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I decide to just go back to sleep. My friends, Jennifer and Ann, are spread out around the room. Ann is on that rocker again and Jenn is on a sleeping bag on the floor. I'm already on the couch, so I just lay down and close my heavy eyelids. A lot of thoughts are bouncing around in my brain. It's so hard to shut off my brain but, somehow, I manage to. Then, the dreaded dreams come. But, this one's not bad. When I'm having a particularly bad day my brain gives me a happy dream.

A sleepover. With singing and dancing. And popcorn and movies. And a huge bag of Sour Patch Kids. Jennifer, Ann, and Maggie are there. So am I. But, there's someone else who I can't explain. It looks like Andrea. But, she's not dressed in all black. Also she's got no eyeliner on. No knifes either. She's all smiles and laughter. Jennifer jokes around with her. And, they burst into an extreme, painful laughing attack. I start chucking popcorn at them as they try to catch it in their mouths. When it hits there forehead they crack up again! Eventually, we all settle down and go to sleep. I'm half asleep when I feel a cold, smooth, metallic object at my throat.

That's when I jolt awake. What I thought was a happy dream took a turn for the worst.

I try and slow my breathing for like the hundredth time this week! I focus on the room I'm in. The living room. It's just me and Ann, who sits opposite of me. I pull out my destroyed phone and toss it to Ann. "Think fast!" I shout.

She reaches up and catches it flawlessly. She pulls it down and looks at it. After examining it, she says, "What happened to this? I mean, how did it break?"

In answer, I explain, "I don't really know. I feel asleep and when I woke up it was all smashed, like someone dropped it on the corner. It won't turn on either."

"Huh. That's really weird! Was it charged?" She asks.

"I'm sure it was!" I say.

"Hmmmm. That's really puzzling." Ann concludes.

"Yeah, by the way, where's Jenn? Is she just upstairs?" I change the subject.

Ann looks at the floors. "She isn't here."

"Wait, what? What do you mean?" I don't understand.

"She went somewhere. Alone." Ann is hiding something. I know she is.

"Ann Elizabeth! Tell me, now! Right now. Where did Jennifer go?" I have to force it out of her.

Hesitantly, she answers, "Ok. Fine. She went to that other cabin to talk to its owner. Her name is Joan."

"Wait. What? I still don't understand? Why?" I keep asking.

"That doesn't matter right now. She just had to talk to her." She says.

Then, it hits me. Me and Ann are here. Maggie is still missing and Jennifer went off into the woods. Alone. By herself.

"Ann! How could you? You let her go alone!?! Why?!" I throw as much strength as I can into my words.

Defensively, she replies, "I tried, Chelsea! I really did! You know I did! She said that I couldn't leave you alone! She said not to worry about her! It's alright. Calm down, Chelsea."

I try. I pull a piece of notebook paper out my journal. I try to continue my list from the other day. But, eventually, I just write down everything Andrea has told me. All her threats and lies. Finishing up my list of sorts, I fold up the papers and slid them back in my shiny journal. We sit in silence for twenty minutes. No sounds except our breathing. Mine slow and shallow. Ann's at a slightly quicker pace then mine. Still no other noises.

Until we hear another scratching from upstairs. I know what that means. Our vicious, little friend is back. Andrea is paying us yet another visit.

I look at Ann and quickly explain, "Don't worry, Ann. It's just that girl, Andrea. Listen, quick! We have to just play along with whatever the heck she say. Don't be afraid. Only do want she says. Nothing else. Or, something will happen to our friends. She really vicious and terrible. She said that she isn't afraid to kill you or any of the others, but not me, for some stupid reason. She is probably going to threaten us, so just follow along. Don't say anything. Let me do the talking." 

A sound from the steps shuts me up. Then, she's there. Andrea is back. Just standing there for a minute.

"Hey, Sweetheart. Good job so far. Now I have a harder task for you." She says in that creepy, sly voice. Then, she looks at Ann and continues, "And, one of your little friends. Will she cooperate like you? Otherwise, I think that you both can guess what the consequences for her will be. Follow me."

We get off the couch and follow Andrea into who knows what kind of trouble.

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