It was 6 AM.

My Mother and Father went into the kitchen to make coffee and I quickly got out of bed. Even at that time, I was cautious that Scott would catch me in the hallway. He couldn't do much though with them up and about, or so I assumed.

"Good morning honey." Mom said and kissed my head. Dad smiled at me while stirring his cup.

"What are you doing up at this hour?" he asked.

The love in their voices was something that made me want to break down for a moment, wishing that they were there for me last night.

"What's wrong?" Mom asked.

I put my hands together and, the words just couldn't come out. I placed them hard against my mouth and then my eyebrows began to curve inwardly. I was a target. Something was going to happen to me. Something almost happened to me last night.

I opened my mouth and footsteps came up behind me. A bit startled, I moved out of the way and saw Scott walk past me, looking me up and down like I was crazy. I stared back at him with an unbelieving face. The timing. The bastard had to come right at that moment.

"Good morning Mr. and Mrs. Greene." he kindly said.

"Good morning Scott... Would you like some coffee? How's Joel?" Mom asked.

Joel...

"That would be lovely. Yes please. Joel is doing fine... His recovery is moving at a great pace; he should be up and moving in no time." His smile was disgustingly sweet. I looked to my father who seemed tense around Scott. I assumed he didn't like him. This was a good sign in my case.

Mom made him a cup of coffee and led him out of the room; "Let me show you some drapes I've been working on!"

"Wonderful Mrs. Greene." he replied.

After they left, dad took a sip of his drink and looked at me questionably. I wiped under my eyes and hugged my sides, first apologizing for my appearance; I should have changed out of my nightgown before leaving my room.

"You look like you had a rough night. What happened already?"

"How long have you known Scott?" I asked.

"About ten years. Why do you ask?" Did he just say ten years? I haven't seen or heard about him until now.

"He said that you've known each other for a while. Last night. In my room."

At that, he became angry and defensive. "What was he doing in your room young lady? Did he do something to you?"

"No... not really... He sat on my bed." Why didn't I tell him about what really happened? You... idiot.

Thinking of how Scott has made me a nervous wreck, I said, "That's not only what I'm upset about, dad. He's not normal. I've seen him do things that aren't normal. Before I go to bed, sometimes I write stories and I've seen him walk down the hallway... His shadow does strange things."

"Are you sure your eyes aren't just messing with you?"

"He's done some strange things Dad. I swear to you, I've seen it!"

"And what would those be?" We heard mom ask as she and Scott came back into the room. I looked over and saw him watching me in such a serious, intense way. I instinctively stepped back and accidentally hit my back against the counter, then I looked at mom again.

"It's... nothing. I had a dream. I had a dream that woke me and I couldn't go back to sleep." I said. My explanation made Scott fold his arms with the pleased 'good girl' look. My parents didn't notice it.

"Well sweetie, I'm sorry that you had a bad dream. Why don't you get something to eat and then find something to do? Your father and I have to go out soon."

"You do?" I almost choked but quickly regained some sort of nonchalance with a cough. It stunned them for a second.

"Yes, we do own a clothing business. Remember? We have a meeting to go to." Dad said, sarcasm lacing his voice.

I swallowed a little hard and nodded, lowering my head. "Yes, of course. Sorry Mom... Dad. I think I'll get dressed first."

Mom walked up to me and placed her hand on my shoulder, "It's alright sweetheart. You just need to relax. Scott, be a dear and make sure she studies and writes."

"Yes ma'am." he replied with a dip of the head. I raised my head a little and they kissed my hair on the way out of the room. I smiled faintly at them and then gave Scott a little glare. I hurried behind them and went straight to my room to change my clothes, making sure to lock my door.

What would I do while they're away? Stuck here with this weird man? If he does something to me, I would have to fight. I wouldn't... kill... him. That would be really drastic! If I wounded him and left, it would stir a LOT of unwanted attention. What could I do? I wasn't too sure what he wanted to do with me, but I definitely knew it wasn't anything good.

About two hours went by and I heard them leave and then the house became a completely different place. As soon as I heard the front door shut, it really changed that fast. I spent those two hours with my pen and notebook in my hands, as if I were writing.

I was staying safe.

I listened and heard him walking down the hallway. Sitting frozen by the window and biting my nails, I kept my attention on the bottom of the door. He kept moving and turned to go into my brother's room.

It was dead quiet for a while. What was he up to? I didn't like this at all. It was like being at the edge of a cliff with a bungee jumping cord strapped to you, and you're waiting for someone to come and push you off.

Then, I heard something. Something odd. A powering down noise. My imagination went in all directions.

The final conclusion I came to was... my brother and the bed. It was a very unusual thing for me to imagine, but what else could it be? Scott said something about the bed 'doing its job'. Was it not just a bed, but something much more than that?

That noise could have been Scott 'turning it off' and now Joel couldn't heal! Urgency struck me like a flame to a match.

I quickly unlocked my door and practically burst out of my room and ran to Joel's. "NO! LEAVE HIM ALONE!"