The Shadow

Chapter 4

Beep. 

Beep.

Beep.

I groaned, hiding my head under the warm covers.

Beep. 

Beep.

Beep.

I took my pillow and covered my ears with it, trying to hold on to the last bits of sleep.

Beep.

Beep. 

Be-

My alarm clock fell to the wood floor with a satisfying crash as I lashed out at it, the monotonous noise driving me to the verge of insanity. Well, okay, it wasn't that bad, but still. I had slept a grand total of two hours, adrenaline and fear keeping me wide awake until exhaustion took over, and my alarm was the last thing I wanted to hear. But now that I wasn't sleeping and was wide awake, the uneasiness was swirling in my stomach again, threatening to make me vomit. My actions at the diner last night had followed me home, putting my family in danger, and I couldn't do anything about it. 

Helpless.

That's exactly how I felt, and that's exactly how my situation was. The feeling of not having any control, of never knowing what's coming, of not being able to fix something--it was suffocating. 

I wearily got out of my bed, a chill going down my spine as I glanced at the window that had been open only hours ago. The wood floor was like ice against my feet as I walked towards the door and I tightly wrapped my white robe around me, relishing in the softness of the fabric. As I made my way into the hallway and down the stairs, it was completely silent, my parents having left for work already and Maggie's door closed. 

Maggie.

Another sickening wave of emotion rolled through me, but it wasn't fear or worry as it had been all night. Instead, it was guilt; even my innocent little sister was in the crosshairs of my consequences. 

I massaged my temples as I sat at the kitchen bar with a bowl of cereal, watching the brown flakes sink into the milk until they dissapeared. All the thoughts that had been bombarding my mind ever since Julia left me at work last night were giving me a headache, and I groaned. 

Why? Why does it always have to be me? Why can't Christina be the one in this mess?

Ah, yes. Christina. The Queen of Cassadee Falls High. Head cheerleader, singer, bitch, and the one person who The Shadow hasn't surpassed on my who-I-hate list. And trust me, that it quite the accomplishment considering what just happened.

The girl was so fake she could have been a godamn Barbie Doll, but yet I was the one cursed with having The Shadow stalk me. Then again, if it were her in my situation, she would have invited The Shadow to bed the moment she saw his black-clad drool-worthy body enter the diner. 

I snorted, horrified as I felt cool milk rise up my nose and drip onto the counter. "Come on," I muttered, not caring how whiny my voice was as I wiped up the mess and cleaned my dishes. This was definately not going to be my day.

I dressed quickly after breakfast, pulling on jeans and a floral tee with my riding boots before throwing my hair into a bun (and no, not one of those 'glamorous messy buns' that don't exist). I swiped mascara on before spraying on my perfume, and grabbed my backpack and keys before leaving my room. Maggie's door creaked open as I slowly opened it, and I closed my eyes tightly, wincing with every obnoxious squeak. Her light-pink room was completely dark, the white veil from her canopy surrounding her soft-yellow bed, and I carefully tiptoed to where she was sleeping. I pulled the canopy aside to find her sound asleep, tangled in her pink covers and breathing softly. I smiled at the seven-year-old before brushing a light kiss against her forehead and leaving her room.