Rose jolted up, drenched in sweat. "Where am I?" she questioned, biting her lip as she tried to peer through the darkness. It felt like she was sitting on her bed in her bedroom. Yet her eyes seemed to be saying something different.

                  Tap tap tap Rose's head whipped to where her window would be, her short blonde hair flying along with her movements. "Is someone there?" she asked fearfully, trembling, afraid that someone or something might answer back. Scratch scratch scratch. Rose felt her body go rigid with fright, as she looked over her shoulder to where her closet stood, looming over her. Gasping, Rose scrambled away from the closet, towards the end of her bed, and quickly dove under her covers.

                 Darkness seemed to consume Rose even more in her little makeshift hiding place, and soon Rose began to find herself gasping for air. Throwing the blankets and pillows away from herself, Rose sat upright, gasping for air. She stared out at the darkness, feeling as if it were wrapping ghostly fingers around her neck, choking her to death. I don't want to die!-At least not like this! Rose thought in a panic.

              Parting her lips, a scream escaped from Rose's lips, as she clawed at the collar of her shirt, trying to get air through her lungs. The sounds of pounding footsteps rang through the hallway, and Rose's bedroom door was swung open. "Rose?!" questioned her older brother, Robbie's, panicked voice. Rose's wide brown eyes, looked at Robbie, her mouth open as if she was going to say something.

              Walking over, Robbie sat down next to Rose, his muscular figure outlined in the darkness. He asked, "What's wrong, lil' sis?" But Rose still sat there, staring up at him. "Y-You...You s-saved me R-Robbie..." came Rose's choked sob, as she clutched Robbie's loose T-shirt.

Scratching the back of his head, Robbie nodded slowly, coming to the realization that Rose had been fearing not someone at all. But the dark. Leaning towards the lightswitch, Robbie flicked on the lights causing the entire room to appear to have a yellowish tint. "See Rose, there's nothing to be afraid of," Robbie assured his sister, rubbing her back. "Remember that I'm always just down the hallway if you need me," Robbie stood, walking towards the door. Laying down, Rose yawned and watched sleepily as Robbie began to turn off the lights.

               "Robbie wait..." Rose called, chewing on her bottom lip. Fingers lingering on the light switch, Robbie glanced at her, waiting for her to say more. She asked "C-could you leave th-the lights on?" Smiling Robbie nodded and tiptoed out, closing Rose's door behind him. Rose smiled yawning, pulling the covers over her shoulders and sighing with content. "Robbie's so... fearless.."