The One Who Died

Chapter 1:

Jeez, can this day get any worse? I woke up late for school, forgot my homework, and now I have to give a speech in front of the whole class. What did I ever do to Ms. Crabtree? Does she have to make my life so hard? Sure, we had a few days to write a ten page paper, but do I really have to give a speech on it?

"Iris? Would you like to give your speech now or... now?" Ms. Crabtree nearly screams. She is like a teapot. Short, stout, and loud when she gets steamed up. She's usually a sweet teacher, but today looks like she, actually, both of us woke up on the wrong side of the bed.

"Okay..." I fiddle with the papers I do have and look at the class. "Hello..." I squeak as my knees shake and my head becomes like a window on a rainy day. Okay, Iris, get a grip. You can do this. My insides clench and I look around the class again. I can't do this. "Excuse me.." My voice hits an even higher pitch than a squeak. Running out of the class, I heave in the hallway. Thanks a lot, Stupidity.

"Pretty impressive, I must say." I look around for the voice. "I could give that hurl an extra point or two."

I hide. "Who's there?" I came out here to be alone! Who saw me? Am I going crazy? What's happening?

All of these things are running through my mind until the owner of the voice, who somehow ended up behind me, pokes me in the sides. "RAH!"

I scream and whirl around. "Henry! Don't do that! You nearly gave me a heart attack!" I start pounding on his shoulders with my papers.

He laughs and hands me a wet-wipe. "Ooh! Double points! It came out of your nose too!"

"Haha, very funny..." I wipe my face and look at him. "Better?" I say a little harshly.

"Woah! No need to get snappy with me, sister. You're the one with the missing assignment."

"Just answer the question..." I quiet down. Henry nods and I look down. "Sorry, I.."

"Don't have to apologize!" He mock-scolds me.

"But..." I still look down.

"No worries!"

Then a girl screams down the hall. "Monster! Monster! There's a monster!" She trips and hits her head on a locker.

"Lindsey?" Monster? She must be on something. No way... I look around the corner. "There's nothing there." Then I feel it. The feeling I could never forget and has haunted me for the past seventeen years. "Henry... do you have your finger on my back?"

"Who's Henry?" A different male voice utters as everything goes black. I look around.

"Henry? Where are you?" I call into the dark. I see a light go by and whip around. "Who are you?" I run around. "Henry!"

"He's not around. I think the question is 'where and who are you?'"

"Like I'd tell you. Where are you?!"

"Who are you? Where are you?" The voice mocks me. "Gee... you should learn to give a different phrase." It starts to fade. "I'll see you again in three days. Be ready..."

"But..." I Speak out loud when I wake.

Henry stands over me, looking worried. "Hey, you okay?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" I look around and then realize where I am. "Why are we at the hospital?"