It did not take long for Mr. Hawk's friends to set the table and be seated and for Mr. Hawk, Sarah, Scarlett, Stanley, and I to join, as well as my folks.

I was the last to sit and watched as everyone else ate, drank, and chatted. I would usually dig in and join in on the conversations taking place, but I was not hungry. And yes, I know that I stated that I was starving, but that was before Mr. Hawk was positive that no one in the mansion called my name.

I sat between Scarlett and Stanley and examined the different foods on my plate. Chicken and mashed potatoes and peas and a piece of bread. How I wished to be hungry so my body would enjoy the tastiness.

Stanley must have took notice of my strange behavior because he leaned in my direction and whispered, "You having trouble eating your food, Margie?"

I was startled and faced him. "Oh. Stanley."

"I am sorry. Did I scare you?"

"No," I lied.

"Then I will take back my sorry." He shoved some peas in his mouth and swallowed. "What is up with you?"

"What do you mean? I am fine."

He motioned to my plate using his fork. "You have not eaten one piece of food."

"Pfft. Yes, I have. I ate some peas."

I know that I promised to never lie again, but the last thing that I wanted was for my own sister and boyfriend to be worried about me. Unfortunately for me, Stanley was not buying my recent lie.

"I did your plate, Margie, and made sure that you have exactly twenty-four peas. Each pea represents the number of a Forlot book."

"Ah. Cool."

"Yeah, and it would be cooler if my girlfriend ate them."

I sighed and rested my elbows on the table, letting my bangs cover my eyeballs. "Now I am not really hungry," I muttered.

"What is the matter, Margie? Why are you not hungry?"

I am not sure why, but I snapped.

"That is just it! I am not hungry! Is it suddenly abnormal to not be hungry?!"

Stanley moved my bangs from my eyes, and I saw that everybody had stopping chatting and were looking straight at me. I gulped, removed my elbows from the table, and sat up straight.

"Margie?" Sage said my name. "Are you alright?"

"Sweetie?" Mom spoke up. "I knew it. This whole 'Monster Protector' thing is poisoning your brain."

I snapped again. "No, it is not!"

They were so taken aback by my second outburst that all the ghosts nearly went through their chairs. Embarrassed, I placed my hands over my mouth and scrambled out of my seat.

"Margie, please. That is enough," Dad scolded.

"Sit back down. Please," Scarlett begged. "Talking about whatever is ticking you off will make you feel better."

I did not sit, but did uncover my mouth and put my arms to my sides. I breathed hard through my nose, deciding to say what was on my mind.

"So?" Tippy piped up. "What is the problem?"

"I...I heard a person saying my name."

Tappy tossed his fork onto his plate. "Here we go."

"Dad," Skippy hissed. "Do not be rude."

"Margie, we talked about this earlier," Mr. Hawk reminded me. "None of us called you."

"Are you hearing things?" Riley wondered. "If you are, Mr. Hawk will have to search for a new Monster Protector."

"Sis, that was not very nice," Sage defended me.

"We love Margie no matter what her problems are," Lin stated. "Even if she has a mental illness."

I growled, clenched my hands into fists, and pounded them on the table. I was not losing my mind...was I?

"I am not crazy!" I yelled. "I heard what I heard."

"Then how come the rest of us did not hear the voice?" Mary questioned.

"I have no idea. Ask the voice."

"How can I when I will probably not hear its answer?"

My sister leaped from her chair. "That is enough. Margie, come with me."

Scarlett took my hand into hers and forced me out of the dining room and up the stairs. She led me to my bedroom and shut the door behind us.

"Sit on the bed, Margie."

I did as I was told and started to apologize.

"I am so—"

"You do not have to apologize. I just want to know..." She plopped next to me. "...all about the voice that you heard."

"Do...do you think that I am crazy?"

"Absolutely not."

"Do you think that I...am mentally ill?"

"I...I hope not."

I spilled the beans about the mysterious voice. When I heard it and how it sounded. Scarlett was nodding and rubbing her chin.

"The voice said your name once, and it sounded like a male."

"Yes. And his voice was so...so..."

"Attractive?"

"Close enough."

"Hmm." She crossed one leg over the other. "That is quite bizarre, considering that no male in the mansion claimed to have said your name."

"I wonder who and why he wanted me."

"Margie...Margie..."

I uttered a startled gasp. Scarlett grabbed ahold of my shoulders.

"What is wrong? You hear the voice again?"

I held up two fingers and whispered, "Twice."

"Margie..."

I ran up to my window, pushed it open, and poked my head out. I was furious at this guy.

"Leave me alone!" I shouted at the top of my lungs, my voice echoing throughout. "Say my name one more time, and I will hunt you down and make you bleed!"

Scarlett pulled me away from the open window. "Margie, relax. The whole town will hear you."

"Do not tell me to relax, sis. Instead, tell whoever is doing it to knock it off!"

"Margie...Margie..."

If Scarlett had not had strong grips on me, I would have gone out and locate the guy and kick him where the sun does not shine.

Why was he torturing me?