''Looks like someone is finally showing some excitement for today.''

''What do you mean?''

''Aw honey...... Happy Birthday!''

''HAPPY BIRTHDAY KRYSTAL!!'' yelled the family. That's right, today was the 17th of January and in 2 days would be her 18th birthday and Krystal completely forgot about it. With so many things going on, she neglected the fact that she would be soon legally an adult. Krystal was shocked to finally see how old she was getting.

''Guess my memory isn't working anymore already.'' she said jokingly.

''If you are old, we should be dust by now, you know?'' her dad checked worriedly his face for wrinkles in the little mirror in the living room. Her parents were both quite young compared to others' family; Jennifer would be 39 in October and Maverik would be 42 in September. She would always show off her parents' age when she was talking to her friends in Italy.

''Now then, you should make a wish and blow the candles honey!'' said her mum, more excited than Krystal herself. She closed her eyes, and she made the same wish as every year: ''I wish for this year to be as exciting and fun just like the previous one, make it perfect, with a special effect.'' This was the wish that would always come true, every year, something amazing would happen, never once did she regret it; last year Nigel was the special effect. She slowly opened her eyes, there was a very pretty decoration on the cake: the number 18 made of silver with pink and red hearts and little feathers all around it.

1...

...2...

...3!

Krystal blew the melting candles.

''So, what are you going to do during the weekend?'' asked her mum after cutting the cake.

''I don't know, but nothing big. Nigel invited me to go to the cinema Saturday evening.'' she said hesitantly.

''Aw that's nice. What are you going to see?'' Jennifer asked while handing slices of cake around.

''Hang on a second amore! Krystal, you mean the guy next door?! The guy tha-...Nope not gonna happen.''Maverik said firmly.

''What? Dad it's just a night out with a fr- ''

''A guy. A man... Opposite gender!'' her dad interrupted her, emphasising the obvious.

''Darling, I know you love your daughters but you can't keep them here until their late 30s, can you?''

''Dad we are in a new modern technological century!! People are freer and more mature at a younger age, am I right?'' said the rebellious Meggie, who was 15 years old.

''You little Princess stay out of this. We'll talk about it when you'll grow up.'' sighed their dad.

''A Princess with snickers and watching rugby matches...'' murmured Krystal under her breathe.

''How much older do I have to grow? By the time you retire I am going to be nun.'' Meg glared at Maverik.

''For how long are you going to be gone?'' said Krystal, successfully changing the topic.

''Maybe a month or two.'' her dad was thinking deeply about it. ''We are very sorry we can't be here for the day of your birthday dear... But regarding Saturda-''

''That's okay! Now... where are my presents?'' Krystal asked impatiently. Her dad was a business man and would often go to other countries for a few weeks or months to do his job. Her mother would accompany him, working as an interpreter. Meg would go off to France for a year to study there the same day, leaving Krystal all by herself. Nonetheless she couldn't complain, she had so many souvenirs from all across the world; this time she would get something from Thailand.

Once the mini party with her beloved family was over she went upstairs in her little cosy room. She took her sketchpad out and turned on her MP3 player. Krystal looked outside the window for a few minutes before starting to do some sketching. One of her favourite songs came up: ''One for the money'' by Escape the Fate. She just sat there in a corner of her now dark room leaning against her huge new teddy bear given as a present from Meggie. The 2 sisters loved each other, with their little fights over nothings. Krystal had envied many times Meg; carefree and outgoing, the opposite of Krystal. Meggie was the popular kind of girl in her school, just like in a movie. A mixture of tomboy, and girly girl and there she was, taller than Krystal (one of the many ways Meg would tease her) with wavy silk black hair and amber eyes. To the outsiders, the 2 girls were always confused as to which one is the oldest, thinking of Meg being older because of her appearance. Thus, they would always support and defend each other when needed. As the song on the MP3 player came to an end, Krystal was back in her fuzzy bed, Sandman helping her close her sleepy eyes.

Friday came, one more day until Krystal's birthday, a sunny day and no school but she was very frustrated. Krystal thought that she didn't have any proper clothes for the date. An unfamiliar word in her vocabulary, this word made her heart do flips every time she would say it. Probably because this was the first time she'd been invited by a guy somewhere. No one was at home anymore, so she had the house for herself and she could release her stress freely. Krystal checked her wardrobe, her sister and mum's dresses, but nothing that would fit her. While she was depressing in a corner of the living room, a very familiar ringtone broke the silence. Looking at the screen of her phone, the name of the person that has been on her mind for the last 2 days was calling her.

''H-hello?'' her subconscious cursed her stuttering.

''Good morning Krystal! You ok?'' Nigel sounded very excited and full of energy, as always.

''Yeah, I am fine, what about you, everything ok?''

''Yes, just calling to set up our date.''

The butterflies in her stomach couldn't be restrained anymore, like his voice was the key that fitted her lock. Her body temperature was quickly rising and she was starting to feel light-headed.

''Krystal, you there?'' Nigel said a little bit worried. ''You haven't changed your mind about tomorrow night, have you?'' he was trying to sound casual but there was a hint of sadness in his voice.

''No, I still want to go!!'' Krystal paused, cringing at her tone of voice.

''Great! So, what would you like to see? Anything you fancy?''

Krystal wasn't a picky person, as long as the movie was interesting then she would love to go, especially if it was with Nigel.

''Not really, you pick. Just not horror please.'' she shivered just by saying the word. Krystal would admit she was a scaredy-cat, even if it was cartoon horror, she hated watching them, having nightmares even at this age.

''Alright, don't worry, you are in good hands. Ah! Before I go, I would advise you to wear something more classique my lady. I'll see tomorrow night at 7.00 p.m. then.''

Great. Just great. And here she thought that a casual shirt and a pair of jeans would work. Saying goodbye to Nigel, her body was set on fire and she was back to square one. Panicking, Krystal called her mum asking about a dress. Her mother asked her to go to her parents' room and look under the bed.

''Your dad chose it for you, a present for your birthday. Love you dear!'' Jennifer said lovingly.

Krystal went upstairs, looked under the bed and found a huge rectangular box. She took it out and opened it. Inside, there was the most beautiful mini dress she could ever dream of. She delicately touched and picked it up like the dress was made of glass. It was just perfect. The strapless candyfloss dress reached a few inches above her knees. A pretty pattern made of lace was embedded on the top of the semi-formal dress, the empire waistline was defined by little sparkling silver stones. From the waist, the dress resembled a waterfall becoming fluffy at the end of the cashmere fabric. Layered on the top there was translucent chiffon that defined the shape of the princess like dress.

Thank you, dad and mom.

That night she challenged herself to watch a horror movie, alone in the house. Two were the reasons, one was because she thought that once she was 18 she could do anything, being independent and mature just like that, with a snap of her fingers; the other reason was because she was a masochist and with her parents and sister in other countries, the adrenaline would rush though her veins quicker.

''Uuuhh, paranormal should do the trick!'' her legs were already numb.

11.39 p.m.

''Just bring the other twin back home you idiots!'' her voice cracked while watching the film.

Throughout the movie a loud crush echoed loudly in the kitchen. Krystal stopped the film and snorted.

''Yeah right, as if. There's no way that-'' Mike interrupted her while barking wildly. Krystal checked the kitchen just to see the rat like dog and a broken plate on the floor. Kristal sighed relieved realising that she was holding her breathe.

''Silly dog! How many times do we have to tell you? These are not Frisbees.'' After cleaning up, she went back to the living room to continue her movie. Taking the remote, ready to jump on the couch, the Father Clock started singing.

''Midnight huh.... Well, happy birthday Krystal Relley!'' she grinned. The phone dinged once before she opened the message. Nigel.

''Good morning princess! <3 Allow me to be the first knight to tell you Happy Birthday!! I can't wait for tonight. We recently just met (well actually a year now :__D), but I feel like you have always been there in my life. It's silly to say this now but do you remember how we met, talking about the Audi car? Well, the windows weren't down at all, it was just a way to finally start talking to you... Lol

This is just a little present. But don't worry, I will surprise you 😉 Until then...XXX''

Krystal stood there dumbfounded. There was still processing in her head while trying to reply to the message, when a heavy thud could be heard, this time from upstairs.

''Sigh, this dog surely is lively even though it's this late.'' she yawned, turning off the TV. On her way to her room, up the stairs, Mike joined her. Krystal's feet were glued to the stairs. If the little rat was here then...what or who was waiting for her up there? Should she call the police? Call for help? Hide? Maybe grab a weapon to feel safe. In the end, she decided to be rational and slowly continued up to the first floor to check it out.

Barely moving and sweating Krystal checked all the rooms. In front of the door of her bedroom, which was slightly opened, Mike was whining and growling alternatively.

<<If you are a ghost please don't show yourself!!>> she thought trying to relax a little bit, now that she was equipped with a baseball bat from Meg's room. Krystal knew that it couldn't possibly be a ghost, if it was, well not even a knife could do anything to it. She brusquely opened the door. She scanned the room from where she stood, but nothing was out of order. She stepped in, the dog right behind her and once she started breathing again, she calmed down and sat on the edge of the bed. Just then, out of the corner of her eye she noticed something. Something different. A shadow. A shadow that didn't quite matched anything in her room. It started to move, slowly out of the wall, taking a 3D shape. <<I know white ghosts don't exist, not so sure about dark ones.>> she thought panicking.

Friend or foe?