Note: I'm adding music that fits the chapter above, play it as you read :)

     The day went by as a blur. I remember hugs upon hugs, being distracted in class, mulling over lunch, a slow and dreadful walk home and eating one bite of dinner. It was time for bed. I didn't even try to fall asleep. I knew I couldn't.

I kneel down on the ground and for the first time ever, I pray to God. I've never been to church nor have I ever been religious, but I felt the need to pray. I prayed, begging for me to get up tomorrow morning to find all of family and friends alive, the murderer caught and Jake resurrected. I knew it wouldn't come true, yet I tried. Just as I said, "Amen" my phone buzzed. I stood up and grabbed it. It's from an unknown number, big surprise. Not really. Other than the murderer, who would text me? It's not like my boyfriend just died or anything.

Bitter, I read the message. "Hopefully God will answer your prayers. Satan is answering mine... Maybe next time, you should ask God to let me kill you quickly. He'd hate for you to be in pain, I'd love it. Good luck and remember, hush hush." I delete the message and lie down. I need to tell the police. I need to tell my mom. I need to tell everyone that I'm being stalked and threatened. I, more than anything, need to stay alive. Telling everyone was next on the list, staying alive was first. I don't know how. It seems that I'm going to die and soon, but before the murderer will kill every one of my friends. Maybe I won't die, maybe I'll be the survivor girl you see in movies. Maybe I'll live the rest of my life alone, because every time in make a friend, they'll get murdered. Maybe I'll be put out of my misery.

     My alarm goes off as I stare at the wall. I didn't sleep for a second in the past night. I couldn't. There was this feeling in me. One I can't describe. I'm not sure if it was fear or sadness. It could have been anger or emptiness. It could be all four. I stand up and wobble downstairs. I don't want to, I know the news will be on. I know that something happened last night. I just hope I won't be devastated by it.

       I see my dad watching it, he doesn't have the same expression today. He doesn't have the death expression. I turn my attention to the tv, hoping that the news anchor will tell us we went one night without an attack. That's not what she says. "Last night, a woman named Jackie Fletcher was attacked by an unknown person. She is residing in the town hospital in a medical induced coma. The doctors say she'll be alright, so thank God for that," She says. I let out a sigh of relief.

     One flaw in my pattern is that when people are attacked and survive long enough to get to the hospital, I don't know them. I only know the ones who don't make it to the hospital. Sure, I may have seen the victims, but I've never known them. I can't figure it out.

       I walk into my kitchen and make toast. My phone makes a dreadful sound as a start the toaster. It's the sound of an unknown text. From a new number, yet again, I get a message saying,

Morning, Ruby. You must be glad you don't know Jackie, I'm sure. I wonder if you found the attack pattern yet.... I know you must have figured out the murders by now. I suppose you know your fate. This is just a reminder it hasn't changed. Best of luck! As always, hush hush.

My toaster pops and I drop my phone.

My brother walks in and laughs, "Nice job, butterfingers."

    I laugh it off, hiding my terror. Not about having a broken phone, about my fate. I've never believed in fate, but my stalker seems to know it. I eat my bagel in hunger. I didn't eat much of anything yesterday. I skipped breakfast fast and took one bite of my sandwich before throwing it out at lunch. My dinner was just the same, a bite and then I was done. Now, I am in zombie mode. Living on blinking as my sleep, I munch my bagel.

      I drive myself to school today, after my mother begged me not to. I take the long way, just to avoid Jake's street. I can't see another teddy bear dedicated to him. I walk in the doors and get a text, not again... To my actual surprise it's from Avery.

I'll be at school late, I'm at the dentist. Have you heard from Mary?

I haven't. So respond to Avery first, than to Mary.

No, I'll text her right now

Hey! Text me back ASAP, I have something to tell you!

   I don't have anything to tell her, but if she gets it, she'll read it immediately. Which, is what I need. When one person disappears in the slightest, I know better than to blow it off.

     I walk to my table. Not one person is here. I check my watch and it's not any earlier than yesterday. It's Wednesday and all the other tables are full. Normally my table is so full, people stand at the ends of it. It's empty seats scare me. I text Avery again, "Our table is empty. There isn't a single person at it. Look!" I say, attaching a picture of the empty table. I walk towards the bathrooms hoping to find my friends when I revive a text, "Missing friends? You'll be with them soon, when your fate comes. They'll see you heaven or maybe hell. As always, hush hush!" I feel like I need to throw up. There is no way all of the twelve people who normally sit at my table have disappeared.

       I have seven options: cry, panic, tell the police, tell my mom, tell a teacher, tell Avery, or hunt down the murderer myself. I know which one I'm going with.