Chapter 1
My name is Alyssa Ryan. I am 15 years old and until a few months ago, I was just a normal teenager. Three months ago, my world was turned upside down. I live with my father, Eric, and my older brother, Alec. My mom died when I was twelve from cancer. My dad is very overprotective of me.
The night my world changed also happened to be a normal night. Let me explain.
Earlier that evening, it was right after dinner, and my dad and brother were discussing going to see a movie. I was still working on a report for one of my classes and I was really into it, so I decided not to go with them.
"You sure you don't want to come with us?" Dad asked me. A small hint of a smile appeared on his face. "You do deserve to have some fun, too."
I grinned at him and nodded. "Yeah, but I really want to finish this. I should have it finished and ready for proofing tonight, so I can type it up tomorrow." I said.
"Okay, but call if you need anything." He ordered in a soft tone. "And take a break in an hour. I don't want you overdoing it." He walked over to where I was standing in the middle of the living room and kissed my forehead.
I chuckled and then hugged him. "Have fun tonight." I teased him, which got a chuckle from him.
"You too, Sweetie." He said.
"You ready, Dad?" Alec asked. He had come from his bedroom and came to join us in the living room.
With a sly grin, Dad answered with a "Yes." Then both he and my brother walked out the side door and head to the garage. I heard the car engine start a few minutes later and then head down the street.
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I then headed to my bedroom and went back to work on my report. I worked on it for a good three hours without stopping to take a break. True, my dad wouldn't be too pleased I worked so long without taking a break as he said, but oh well. I had just finished writing it and decided to head back down the stairs to get a soda. I grabbed one out of the refrigerator and carried it into the living room. I sat down on the couch and picked up the remote control for the TV. I flipped it on and then dropped the remote on the coffee table. A new report came up so I watched it. It said a serial rapist was out and about preying on teenage girls. I froze just then. Why didn't I go with Dad and Alec? I thought.
I jumped when the phone rang. I then sighed and picked up the cordless on the side table next to the couch. "Hello," I said.
It was Dad. "Hey, Alyssa. Alec and I are caught in traffic. It's going to be at least another half an hour before we can get home." He said.
"I...uh." I started to say just then. I was scared.
"Lyss? Sweetie, you all right?" Dad asked me. He sounded worried.
"Dad, please hurry," I said and then hung up the phone. I wouldn't normally hang up on my father. I was just scared to death of being there alone after watching that on the news. You see, I go to school with that guy's daughter. She is a new girl and very mean.
I sighed as I headed back into the kitchen. I was now in the mood for a popsicle. I grabbed a red one from the freezer and also a napkin. I carried both into the kitchen and took a bite of my popsicle. I turned the volume up on the TV and switched the channel to a comedy movie. I sat there watching it for another half an hour.
Around ten the phone rang. I figured it was my brother, so I answered it. "Hello?"
"Is this Alyssa?" The Caller asked in a creepy voice.
"Who is this?" I asked. I was trying desperately to keep my voice as steady as I could. I set my popsicle down on my napkin in the corner of the coffee table but remained sitting on the couch. No one answered, so I hung up the phone.
The caller immediately called back. "Why did you hang up on me?"
"You didn't answer me so I hung up." I snapped in annoyance.
"You didn't answer mine either." The Caller snapped back.
I hung up again and then dialed my dad's cellphone. He didn't answer it. I sighed and hung up. A few minutes later, the phone rang again. This time it was Dad. "Alyssa, it's me. We are on our way home now. Are you okay?" He sounded frantic and worried.
"Besides being really creeped out, yeah," I admitted. "Someone called me twice harassing me."
"Don't answer the phone. If it rings again, let the machine get it." Dad ordered me. He then hung up, so I did too.
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As trees swayed slightly in the moonlight as clouds began greying and filling with fresh rain. It was obvious that it was going to storm soon. A soft rumble of thunder could be heard as I sat there on the couch.
Remembering I had left the window in my bedroom opened I muttered, "Oh damn." I got up from the couch and ran up the stairs to the second floor. My bedroom is the third door on the left. I hurried into my room and closed as well as locked both windows. I then did the same in Alec's bedroom. I thought about doing the same in Dad's, but remembered that he was already done,
I hurried back down the stairs and into the living room just as the phone rang again. It rang three more times before finally stopping. I sighed from relief when it stopped.
I settled myself back on the couch and finished my popsicle when the doorbell rang. Figuring it was my dad, I called out, "Dad, you have your keys!" When I didn't get an answer, I began to worry somewhat. I got back off of the couch and hurried to the door. "Dad, is that you?" I unlocked the door and opened it. I stepped out on the front porch but saw no one. I stepped back inside and closed the door. I locked it as well and sighed from relief. "Dad?" I then heard a loud bang outside. This scared me even worse.
I walked to the living room trying desperately to stay calm. I was getting even more scared. I heard someone banging on the door and a voice called out, "Excuse me. Could someone help me please?" It was a man's voice.
"Who are you?" I called out. "Please leave me alone!" Tears were beginning to fill my eyes.
"Can't you please help me?" He asked again. His tone sounded desperate, but I was too freaked out to even be remotely willing to help him. When I didn't, his tone changed. "Let me the hell in! NOW!" He pounded on the door until he saw some headlights flashing.
By this time I was on the couch with my body laying in fetal style. I was crying and hysterical.
He must have left after the car pulled into the garage because a few minutes later, the door opened and my dad came racing into the room. He was followed by my brother. Both were calling out my name frantically.
Dad found me still on the couch. He hurried over and pulled me tightly into his arms. I collapsed against him crying hysterically. "Shhhhh. It's okay. Your safe." He soothed as he held me close. He sat down on the couch and pulled me into his lap as he use to when I was little. He stayed with me while Alec called the police.
The police arrived just minutes later, and I gave my report to the police. By now I was now sitting next to my dad on the couch, while my brother stood in the doorway with his arms crossed across his chest. Dad kept his arm protectively around me as I gave the police my report. I was still very shaky and upset. By the time the police finally left, I was exhausted.
We all headed up the stairs to bed that night. I normally close my bedroom door at night but tonight I left it wide open. I also kept my lamp on next to my bed on the side table.
Dad must have seen my light still on and that I was still up, so he peeked his head in to check on me. "Lyss? You okay?" He asked. He saw the look in my eyes which gave it away that I wasn't, so he came walking over to me. "Why don't I stay in here with you tonight?"
I shook my head. "I'll be okay, Dad. It's just going to take a while for me to settle down to sleep." I shrugged and then added, "Besides, I don't want to keep you up."
He sighed and said, "Alyssa, you got the crap scared out of you tonight. You need me." He then gave me a hug. After letting me go, he joined me on my bed and waited for me to turn out the light. He saw me glance at him after I did. "It's okay. You're safe."
I nodded and laid my head on his arm. I softly sighed as I fell asleep next to my father.
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I was in the kitchen making microwave popcorn when the doorbell rang. I was home alone and feeling very calm and happy. "Just a minute!" I called out as I left the kitchen. I walked into the foyer and noticed the closet door in the foyer was open a crack. I also noticed there was no light on in the foyer so I flipped on the closet light and looked inside.
I screamed when I saw my dad's dead body hanging up inside. I slammed the door shut and raced to the living room. Lying on the floor in the living room was my brother. I screamed as a man dressed in all black came at me with a butcher knife.
I whirled around and raced for the back sliding door to the deck, where our pool is located. I tripped over the rug by the door and I felt my neck being sliced from one side to the other as blood gushed from the wound.
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I woke up tossing, turning, and crying, which immediately woke up my father. I could feel his frantic arms circling my shaking as well as the hysterical body. It took nearly half an hour to calm me down after the nightmare. Dad even led me to Alec's room and show me my brother was indeed fine and asleep in his bed.
We returned to my bedroom and got back into bed. We fell back to sleep pretty quickly. Little did we know my nightmare had just begun.
The night my world changed also happened to be a normal night. Let me explain.
Earlier that evening, it was right after dinner, and my dad and brother were discussing going to see a movie. I was still working on a report for one of my classes and I was really into it, so I decided not to go with them.
"You sure you don't want to come with us?" Dad asked me. A small hint of a smile appeared on his face. "You do deserve to have some fun, too."
I grinned at him and nodded. "Yeah, but I really want to finish this. I should have it finished and ready for proofing tonight, so I can type it up tomorrow." I said.
"Okay, but call if you need anything." He ordered in a soft tone. "And take a break in an hour. I don't want you overdoing it." He walked over to where I was standing in the middle of the living room and kissed my forehead.
I chuckled and then hugged him. "Have fun tonight." I teased him, which got a chuckle from him.
"You too, Sweetie." He said.
"You ready, Dad?" Alec asked. He had come from his bedroom and came to join us in the living room.
With a sly grin, Dad answered with a "Yes." Then both he and my brother walked out the side door and head to the garage. I heard the car engine start a few minutes later and then head down the street.
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I then headed to my bedroom and went back to work on my report. I worked on it for a good three hours without stopping to take a break. True, my dad wouldn't be too pleased I worked so long without taking a break as he said, but oh well. I had just finished writing it and decided to head back down the stairs to get a soda. I grabbed one out of the refrigerator and carried it into the living room. I sat down on the couch and picked up the remote control for the TV. I flipped it on and then dropped the remote on the coffee table. A new report came up so I watched it. It said a serial rapist was out and about preying on teenage girls. I froze just then. Why didn't I go with Dad and Alec? I thought.
I jumped when the phone rang. I then sighed and picked up the cordless on the side table next to the couch. "Hello," I said.
It was Dad. "Hey, Alyssa. Alec and I are caught in traffic. It's going to be at least another half an hour before we can get home." He said.
"I...uh." I started to say just then. I was scared.
"Lyss? Sweetie, you all right?" Dad asked me. He sounded worried.
"Dad, please hurry," I said and then hung up the phone. I wouldn't normally hang up on my father. I was just scared to death of being there alone after watching that on the news. You see, I go to school with that guy's daughter. She is a new girl and very mean.
I sighed as I headed back into the kitchen. I was now in the mood for a popsicle. I grabbed a red one from the freezer and also a napkin. I carried both into the kitchen and took a bite of my popsicle. I turned the volume up on the TV and switched the channel to a comedy movie. I sat there watching it for another half an hour.
Around ten the phone rang. I figured it was my brother, so I answered it. "Hello?"
"Is this Alyssa?" The Caller asked in a creepy voice.
"Who is this?" I asked. I was trying desperately to keep my voice as steady as I could. I set my popsicle down on my napkin in the corner of the coffee table but remained sitting on the couch. No one answered, so I hung up the phone.
The caller immediately called back. "Why did you hang up on me?"
"You didn't answer me so I hung up." I snapped in annoyance.
"You didn't answer mine either." The Caller snapped back.
I hung up again and then dialed my dad's cellphone. He didn't answer it. I sighed and hung up. A few minutes later, the phone rang again. This time it was Dad. "Alyssa, it's me. We are on our way home now. Are you okay?" He sounded frantic and worried.
"Besides being really creeped out, yeah," I admitted. "Someone called me twice harassing me."
"Don't answer the phone. If it rings again, let the machine get it." Dad ordered me. He then hung up, so I did too.
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As trees swayed slightly in the moonlight as clouds began greying and filling with fresh rain. It was obvious that it was going to storm soon. A soft rumble of thunder could be heard as I sat there on the couch.
Remembering I had left the window in my bedroom opened I muttered, "Oh damn." I got up from the couch and ran up the stairs to the second floor. My bedroom is the third door on the left. I hurried into my room and closed as well as locked both windows. I then did the same in Alec's bedroom. I thought about doing the same in Dad's, but remembered that he was already done,
I hurried back down the stairs and into the living room just as the phone rang again. It rang three more times before finally stopping. I sighed from relief when it stopped.
I settled myself back on the couch and finished my popsicle when the doorbell rang. Figuring it was my dad, I called out, "Dad, you have your keys!" When I didn't get an answer, I began to worry somewhat. I got back off of the couch and hurried to the door. "Dad, is that you?" I unlocked the door and opened it. I stepped out on the front porch but saw no one. I stepped back inside and closed the door. I locked it as well and sighed from relief. "Dad?" I then heard a loud bang outside. This scared me even worse.
I walked to the living room trying desperately to stay calm. I was getting even more scared. I heard someone banging on the door and a voice called out, "Excuse me. Could someone help me please?" It was a man's voice.
"Who are you?" I called out. "Please leave me alone!" Tears were beginning to fill my eyes.
"Can't you please help me?" He asked again. His tone sounded desperate, but I was too freaked out to even be remotely willing to help him. When I didn't, his tone changed. "Let me the hell in! NOW!" He pounded on the door until he saw some headlights flashing.
By this time I was on the couch with my body laying in fetal style. I was crying and hysterical.
He must have left after the car pulled into the garage because a few minutes later, the door opened and my dad came racing into the room. He was followed by my brother. Both were calling out my name frantically.
Dad found me still on the couch. He hurried over and pulled me tightly into his arms. I collapsed against him crying hysterically. "Shhhhh. It's okay. Your safe." He soothed as he held me close. He sat down on the couch and pulled me into his lap as he use to when I was little. He stayed with me while Alec called the police.
The police arrived just minutes later, and I gave my report to the police. By now I was now sitting next to my dad on the couch, while my brother stood in the doorway with his arms crossed across his chest. Dad kept his arm protectively around me as I gave the police my report. I was still very shaky and upset. By the time the police finally left, I was exhausted.
We all headed up the stairs to bed that night. I normally close my bedroom door at night but tonight I left it wide open. I also kept my lamp on next to my bed on the side table.
Dad must have seen my light still on and that I was still up, so he peeked his head in to check on me. "Lyss? You okay?" He asked. He saw the look in my eyes which gave it away that I wasn't, so he came walking over to me. "Why don't I stay in here with you tonight?"
I shook my head. "I'll be okay, Dad. It's just going to take a while for me to settle down to sleep." I shrugged and then added, "Besides, I don't want to keep you up."
He sighed and said, "Alyssa, you got the crap scared out of you tonight. You need me." He then gave me a hug. After letting me go, he joined me on my bed and waited for me to turn out the light. He saw me glance at him after I did. "It's okay. You're safe."
I nodded and laid my head on his arm. I softly sighed as I fell asleep next to my father.
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I was in the kitchen making microwave popcorn when the doorbell rang. I was home alone and feeling very calm and happy. "Just a minute!" I called out as I left the kitchen. I walked into the foyer and noticed the closet door in the foyer was open a crack. I also noticed there was no light on in the foyer so I flipped on the closet light and looked inside.
I screamed when I saw my dad's dead body hanging up inside. I slammed the door shut and raced to the living room. Lying on the floor in the living room was my brother. I screamed as a man dressed in all black came at me with a butcher knife.
I whirled around and raced for the back sliding door to the deck, where our pool is located. I tripped over the rug by the door and I felt my neck being sliced from one side to the other as blood gushed from the wound.
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I woke up tossing, turning, and crying, which immediately woke up my father. I could feel his frantic arms circling my shaking as well as the hysterical body. It took nearly half an hour to calm me down after the nightmare. Dad even led me to Alec's room and show me my brother was indeed fine and asleep in his bed.
We returned to my bedroom and got back into bed. We fell back to sleep pretty quickly. Little did we know my nightmare had just begun.