Inside The Hollow

Prologue: Tragedy

I have always loved Iesha. Even when she did all the horrible things. Even after she left me.

I still love Iesha.

I will always love Iesha.

I will love Iesha forever.

*****13 years ago*****

I loved the neighbor's cat, Snowy. She was so soft and warm.

Every day when I came back from daycare, I would take Snowy out from her backyard and place her in my mother's garden. I would pick some cucumbers and share them with Snowy. Sometimes, I would take some of my mother's favorite tuna and sneak some to her. She loved them.

Every day, Snowy would wait in the garden for me to come back and give her food.

One day, while my mother was gardening, she saw Snowy nibbling on a few of the plants. She immediately went to my neighbor's house and told her to keep Snowy carefully watched in her house.

The next day, I noticed that Snowy wasn't in the garden anymore. So I walked to my neighbor's house, and saw Snowy behind the front door, mewing.

I opened it and let Snowy out. I fed her a few more of my mother's vegetables.

This time, though, something was different about Snowy. She cuddled with me, and seemed  much more affectionate. Her eyes had a different glint to them.

While I was playing with Snowy in our backyard, I saw Iesha standing in the corner, glaring at Snowy. I didn't know why. Snowy was a good cat. There was no reason to be mad at her. 

A few days later, Snowy stopped coming over.

I walked to the neighbor's house, thinking that perhaps Snowy was in the house.

The door was open.

I crept in, and saw my neighbor sobbing.

Snowy wasn't there.

I snuck out of the house and back into my mother's garden.

Then I saw it.

Snowy.

She was lying on the ground.

Dead.

A knife was stabbed through her body.

I screamed in horror.

Then I saw Iesha. She was standing there, beside the cat, blood all over her hands.

She was smiling.

******7 years later*******

Mother had finally come back. I was so happy. I loved Mother.

Iesha was happy too. So was Father.

Until one day, when Father had a fight with Mother. They were arguing about something that I didn't quite understand.

Father left with tears streaming in his eyes.

Iesha and I stood there, watching. 

Mother glared at them, with a glint in her eyes that I hadn't seen before. For a second, I wondered if she was the same person.

****

I was restless that night. I tossed and turned, but was unable to fall asleep. Somehow, I managed to fall asleep.

Then I heard it.

A scream.

From my mother's room. Quietly, I crept out of my bedroom to see what was going on.