Lorina in the Dreamlands

Chapter 2

     I grumpily marched back into the kitchen to announce that I couldn't sleep. I was greeted by silence. I peeked through fuzzy vision in the brightness. No one was there. "Alice? Aunt Merdith?" I called. Even Dinah didn't make an appearance. "anyone?" I inspected the room for any sign of a note or message. There was none. They must have gone out to do the laundry. 

     I squinted throgh the window. No clothes swung in the breeze. I glanced around uneasily, they probably wanted to let me sleep and left the house to do something. Still, it was eerie. I shook it off, my thriller books were getting to me. 

     A knock sounded at the door. I jumped, then scolded myself. It was just Alice and Aunt Merdith. What was wrong with me? I glanced down at my long white gown, it seemed unappropriate to answer the door this way. But it was Alice, I reasoned, it wouldn't matter. I sighed and reached for the doornob.

     I couldn't hear voices. I stopped. Alice was as chatty as a bird, shouldn't she be talking? "Hello?", I tried, no answer. I shrugged, she was tired, more quiet this time of day. I grabbed the doornob again, yanked it open. There was no one. I backed away, closing the door as I went.

     I had barely turned around when a hand jerked me back through the door. 

I screamed. It wasn't Alice.