| Chapter 1: �I know...Brenton was totally flirting with Mrs. Seto...� Saria laughed, closing her band locker. Keriko smiled at Saria�s joke. She was pretty happy. She had just moved to Aiea High school straight from New Haven, Connecticut, and was sure that she would have been a total loner. Luckily, on the first day of school, she met Mina. Mina, being the really nice person that she is, brought Keriko into the group. Keriko then met Saria and Arstalisa. They were really great and were friendly to her. After a while, she settled into the school and met more new people. She also met Johen, who happened to be Saria�s boyfriend. He was really smart. Keriko was sure that Johen, who she often called �The Brain� would make it into Harvard. She also totally clicked with Requin. They immediately became close friends. Keriko felt like she could talk to him about almost anything. Last of all Keriko was really happy that she met Teru. He was so wonderful. Keriko liked him the first day she set eyes on him. It was funny. She had never believed in love at first sight. But when she met Teru, it felt different. It felt special in some way. For the first week of school, Keriko was really sad because she thought that Teru disliked her since he ignored her when she talked to him. Arstalisa, Mina, and Saria were really understanding about everything. However, Keriko was surprised when one day, Teru suddenly came up to her and asked her out to the band social. It was like a dream come true. Keriko felt like she couldn�t have been happier. So far she had been going out with Teru for six months. He was the best thing that ever happened to her. �Hey Keriko...� Mina said, smiling. �Hello?!� �Huh?� Keriko asked. �You were zoning out.� Saria informed her. �Were you thinking about Teru again?� �Uh...� Keriko said. �Actually, I was just thinking about how happy I am to be here.� �With Teru!� Arstalisa teased. �You guys...� Mina said. �So Keriko....are you still having that sleepover at your house?� �Oh, yeah.� Keriko said. �It�s on Saturday night. Can you guys come?� �What? You�re not going to invite Requin?� Arstalisa asked. �And Teru?� Saria asked, smiling. �No, I�m not.� Keriko said in an annoyed voice. �Anyway, it�s just a girl�s night out.� �Oh. Well actually, I can�t go.� Arstalisa apologized. �I�m sorry, but I have to go my brother�s funeral.� �Aww...I�m sorry, Arstalisa.� Keriko said. �It�s ok.� Arstalisa said sadly. �Well...we�ll be there.� Saria said. �Ok.� Keriko answered. The next day, while walking to the student council meeting, Keriko spotted Johen, Requin, and Teru hanging out at Zippy�s. �Hey, you guys.� Keriko said. �Hey Keriko.� They answered. �Have a seat,� Teru said, moving over. �So how are things with Jaocilyn?� Keriko asked. Requin rolled his eyes at the mentioning of the name of his younger sister, Jaocilyn. �What do you think?� Requin said. �She�s always trying to be cool like me. But let�s face it. She�s a year younger than me, and I got all of the family�s good looks.� �You�re being really modest.� Keriko teased with a soft laugh. �Don�t get a swelled head.� Johen laughed. �So how are you doing with cramming for the SATs?� Johen asked. �I don�t know...� Keriko said. �I�m not planning on studying much. I don�t expect it to be that hard.� �Yeah, me too.� Johen agreed. �I took a false version of the test last week and scored a 1550, but I feel I can do better.� �Well try your best...� Keriko said. �So do you want to go to the movies on Saturday?� Teru asked. �They have a bargain ten o� clock showing of �Snake Eyes�.� �Oh, I�m sorry, Teru.� Keriko said. �But I already planned to have a sleepover at my house.� �Oh...ok.� Teru replied. " Oh my gosh, I gotta bolt!� Keriko said, looking at her watch. �Well, see you guys later!� On Saturday, Saria and Mina came over. The had a great time. However, Keriko and Saria didn�t really enjoy playing truth or dare. Mina kept on asking them embarrassing questions about their boyfriends. �Uh, well...that�s enough of that...� Keriko said, trying to change the game. �Hey, I still want to know more of Johen and Teru�s secrets!� Mina exclaimed. �I agree with Keriko.� Saria replied. �Uh...let�s play hide and seek in the dark. It�s really cool, because you can�t see anything.� �I don�t know...� Keriko said. �It sounds kind of scary...� �Come on...� Saria urged Keriko. �Well, ok.� Keriko said. �I�ll be it.� Saria shouted. �Run!� Keriko crammed herself into the closet while Mina ran around the house, looking for a hiding space. After changing her spot multiple times, Mina ran downstairs. Mina giggled quietly, under her breath, enjoying the intensity and suspense of the game. She laughed as she almost toppled down the stairs. She planned on hiding outside. She was sure that Saria would never think of looking for her there. Mina stopped giggling when she noticed that the downstairs closet light was on. Mina slowly stuck her head in the door, craning her head around the frame. She almost screamed when she saw a large black object come quickly crashing down toward her head. Mina let out a laugh of embarrassment when she felt the black boot that was balancing on the top shelf hit her on the head with a dull thud. She flicked off the light. At that point, it was pitch black downstairs. She couldn�t see her fingers in front of her face. While leaning over to pick up her slippers, Mina heard a noise come from the closet. "What the hell?� Mina asked, with a confused tone in her voice. She turned around to see the closet door open a crack. Mina�s face went pale with fear. She clearly remembered tightly shutting the door. A sharp pain went shooting down through her fingertips. A soft, far-off humming noise emanated from somewhere deep in the darkness. The hairs on Mina�s head stiffened in anticipation and fear. She nervously scanned the room, sensing a disturbance in the air. She could hear Keriko coming out of the closet from upstairs. Keriko peered around the frame of the closet door. No one was in sight. Sighing, Keriko stepped out of the closet. She walked around upstairs. She was getting worried. Saria and Mina were gone. �Saria? Mina?� Keriko asked, feeling frightened. �Where are they?� Keriko slowly crept downstairs. The wooden staircase creaked loudly as her feet touched each step. The darkness stared at her, as if beckoning her to go on. Keriko felt sick to her stomach. She could feel it. Something wasn�t right. The house was just too quiet. Even the crickets were silent. It was as if they too, knew that something was wrong. She could have sworn that she had heard Mina�s giggles coming form somewhere downstairs, earlier. Keriko looked around and tried to survey the dark room. She didn�t get it. Everything seemed fine. �Ok. This isn�t funny.� Keriko said. Suddenly, a distant scratching noise came from outside. It sounded like something was scratching against the front door. She walked over to the front door, feeling the soft carpet, tickling against her bare feet. She calmly grasped the door handle. �Eew.� Keriko said in disgust, immediately retracting her hand back. The doorknob felt weird. It was wet or something. Keriko tried to flick on the lights, but it didn�t work. �Great, so now the friggin� power�s out.� Keriko muttered angrily, under her breath. She squinted at her hand, trying to identify the dark substance sticking to her hand. She stepped into her slippers and tried the knob again. Wincing over the disgusting sliminess of the knob, Keriko turned it. To her surprise, the knob turned without a catch. �That�s funny...I could have sworn I locked...� Keriko said to herself, before shoving open the door. She screamed when she felt someone�s bloody hand reach out and grab her arm. End of Chapter One.... Next Chapter |
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