Your Last Chance

Chapter One: Into the Woods

Clara's POV 

I had woken up the sound of Kara's snoring. At first I thought it was thunder, and jumped out of bed to close the windows that we had stupidly left open. Once I realized it was just Kara producing inhumane sound, the jump scare had already left me awake and at attention. 

So, this was how I found myself eating ice cream at four o'clock in the morning. This was an event that came to pass more often than I'd like to admit. Of course, it wasn't completely my cravings that led to this traditional nightly escapade; it was often the dreams I had. While I wasn't really a daydreamer in real life—I prefered more logical and rational thoughts— at night it was different. I often had very vivid and colorful dreams, the kind that you can almost see when you close your eyes once awake. 

Thinking about my dreams had made me tired, and, in addition to the fact it was four o'clock in the morning, I went to go back to bed. 

On my way up to my room, I notice a figure in the street. The mere sight of it nearly gives me a heart attack, and the closer I approach to the door, the creepier it got. Though I can't make out any details of the person, the way it walked: a slow shuffle, and energy it gave off: that of dark powers-

I cut myself off from my own thoughts. This was stupid. A man walking at three in the morning was weird, but everything else I was making up. It was the horror movie fanatic in me, I suppose. Still, tearing my gaze from the person was unnerving, like her would pop up behind me if I didn't stay looking at him. I finally did though, and redirected my gaze to the now second most interesting thing on the street: a house across the street.

Not that the house was particularly exciting, that wasn't it. It was the person who lived inside that caught my interest so much. He and I had a complicated relationship that I could explain for hours. I wasn't sure my feelings for him, exactly, but staring at his house at four probably means my emotions for him run deeper than I care to admit. Just... the way he would talk about things sometimes scared me. And the way I cared so much scared me equally. 

A clock chimes in the middle of the silence, signalling the half hour. I guess I had been staring longer than I thought. I go upstairs, but not before one more look at the figure. Something about it caught my eye. The way the almost full moon and streetlights were absolutely no help to his identity. Though surrounded by light, he was the darkest thing in the night.

I scold myself for letting my mind wander again, as I finally make my way up to my room. I actually make it up the stairs this time, and, as quietly as I can, creep back into the room that holds my two best friends.

I expect both of them to be asleep, so I'm startled when I hear Space's voice in the darkness.

"Can't sleep, right?" Space whispers.

"Well, I could, if it wasn't for someone sounding like a damn freight train," I whisper back, smiling. That causes Space to giggle, which she quickly muffles.

I fully intended to keep the conversation with Space going on a little longer, but when I lay my head back on my comfortable pillow, I immediately fall asleep. 

I wake again, this time while sun was actually out. I still don't hear Kara or Space moving, but I assume they'll wake up soon, so I don't try very hard to be stealthy while going through my morning routine. 

Once I finish getting ready, I pick up my phone to check the time. At the same time, an alarm blares from Kara's phone. I wince and cover my ears, as Space jumps out of her makeshift bed on the floor. We both stare in disbelief at Kara's still sleeping form. I finally shake her awake so that she can unlock her phone and turn her alarm off. She groggily wakes up and shuffles to her phone, turning it off.