I walked toward the alley across from Regal Avenue in the early morning, my feet crunching on gravel. I scanned the desolate alley before proceeding cautiously into it. I felt like a mouse being swallowed up by a prowling cat as the light coming from outside slowly began to cease.

I looked around, trying to find Sophia. I gasped when I saw a lock of auburn hair lying next to a puddle of blood. I followed the hair piece to the body. I bit back tears as I realized that the limp body lying before me was Sophia. My beautiful, beautiful Sophia.

I caressed her tear stained cheek. I examined her body, searching for evidence as to who had killed her. All I found was a knife jutting out of the side of her stomach, rusted and crumbly. My stomach twisted into a knot when I noticed a discarded letter lying in her outstretched hand.

I recognized the handwriting at once. It was hers. I picked it up, squinting my eyes to read in the dim light.

"I write this to you, my dear friend. Or rather, my enemy. You broke me. You tore me apart and never came back to fix me. And for that, my dear 'friend', I shall have my sweet revenge."

I dropped the note and looked around me in fright. I could've sworn I had heard her maniacal chuckle...

I shrugged off the feeling and walked home, my heart ripping with each step I took. I finally made it home, and continued life. I made myself a PB and J sandwich, which, I reminded myself, was Sophia's favorite kind. I sighed as I stumbled to my bed.

It was only ten, but I just couldn't bear to do anything any longer. As I felt myself drifting off, I could faintly hear something banging in my room.

The last thing I heard was Sophia's maniacal chuckle bouncing off the walls, and her voice trickling into my ear:

"I'm back."