I was surrounded by a sea of bodies. Sweat trickled down the side of my face and I half heartedly jumped to the beat. The music pounded throughout the house and so did my head. It had been a long day and all I wanted to do was get in bed and snuggle with my dog, Buddy. “Katie!” I yelled over the music. 

My best friend swung her head around and smiled at me. “Jooossieee!” she shouted back at me. She stumbled over to me and fell into my arms. “Aren’t you having sooo much fun!” 

I sighed and steadied her. She was definitely buzzed.  “Not really. I think I’m going to head home.” 

“B-but Josie!” she said. My mentioning leaving the party must have sobered her up because she crossed her arms and frowned at me. It was her signature “you’re making me angry” stance. “This is one of the last parties of senior year! You can’t leave me here by myself.” 

The whole party thing wasn't really my scene. It was Katie’s and being her best friend meant I was obligated to go with her. Just like she was obligated to go to any sports game with me that I wanted to go to. 

I glanced down at my phone. “It’s almost midnight and I have practice in the morning.” 

“Ugh! Fine. Go home and get some sleep you party pooper. I’ll call you tomorrow.” 

I gave her a quick hug and then made my way out, squeezing past gossiping girls and couples making out. When I finally managed to reach the front lawn, I was greeted by a gust of wind. I didn’t realize how stuffy it was in there. 

I made my way down the street towards the main road. I lived on a street parallel from the one the party was on, so it was only about a five minute walk. I took out my phone and quickly dialed the number I knew by heart. “Hey dad,” I said into the voicemail. “I’m on my way home from the party. I probably won’t see you until after practice tomorrow. I love you dad. Say hi to the guys for me. Bye.” 

My dad was captain at the local fire station and spent more time there than at our own home. For as long as I can remember, the fire station has been his safe haven. He spends more time there than he does at home. I know he would never say it out loud, but I think the house just holds too many memories of my mother. She died when I was four years old. I don’t remember much about her; only things my father has told me. 

“She lit up every room she walked into,” he used to tell me. “She was the kind of woman who could turn a bad day into the best in a matter of minutes.” 

I wish I could have known her. My dad says I look just like her. What I could tell from pictures of her, we have the same blonde hair and high cheekbones. The only difference between us was that she had bright blue eyes whereas I had hazel eyes that I had inherited from my dad. 

I wrapped my arms tighter around me. Even though the days were getting warmer, it still felt like winter at night. I turned down my block, my heels clicking on the concrete. The road was empty, not a single car in sight. The only sounds audible were the crickets singing loudly in the grass and the soft rustle of leaves in the wind. Each house I passed was pitch black, signaling that everyone was fast asleep. 

I walked to the end of the cul de sac where my house sat on a small hill. There was one light on in the hallway, the one my dad had left on for me so that I could see when I arrived home tonight. It wasn’t until I reached the bottom of the porch did I see something. 

A shadow.

It rested on the little bench we had on our porch. I could feel its eyes settle on me. Even though I couldn’t make out the figure, I could feel its gaze burn my skin. “Hello?” I whispered, not wanting to wake any of my neighbors.

The shadow shifted slightly. It moved towards me at an eerie pace, stopping right above me on the edge of the landing. A man stood before me, one I didn’t recognize. It wasn’t any of my neighbors nor any of the guys from the fire station. He was dressed in dark clothes: black jeans and hoodie to be exact. The black hoodie had a logo of sorts on the right breast, but I couldn’t make it out in the dark. There was a tattoo on his neck that disappeared beneath his shirt. He wore a dark baseball cap, his brown hair trying to escape. He seemed to be in his mid to late 20s. There was a little scruff covering his face, making him look older. 

“Josie,” his voice said.

I frowned. “How do you know my name?” 

He smiled, his dimples on full display. I had to admit, who ever this guy was, he definitely was handsome. “Come on, Josie. Stop playing around. It’s me,” he said, as if that clarified everything. 

“I’m sorry but I don’t know who you are.” 

His smile vanished and was replaced with an ugly grimace. I suddenly shivered, not from the cold, but from this man. I didn’t care who he was or why he knew my name, I just wanted him off my porch. “Listen,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest. “I don’t know how you know me, but it’s late and I’d like you to leave. You can come back tomorrow when my dad is here.”

He shook his head. “That’s not going to work with me, Josie.” 

He began descending the steps toward me. A feeling of uneasiness settled over me, making me scream. This seemed to piss off whoever this guy was, because he came at me, moving quicker than he did before. 

I took two giant steps back, before turning on my heel and sprinting. “Josie!” he called after me. 

I don’t know why, but I ran to the woods behind my house. I hoped that they would give me enough coverage to slip away, or hide until he gave up and left. 

Tears covered my cheeks as I dodged low hanging branches. The woods were much darker than the street. I wish I had time to let my eyes adjust, but I knew that would only lead to being caught but this man. 

I could hear his footsteps behind me, growing louder. A hand hit my back, sending me flying to the ground. I rolled down a hill, crushing leaves and branches on my way down. I finally came to a stop when my body hit the trunk of a tree. All the air in my lungs left my body in the collision and I gasped. 

I tried to get up, but I couldn’t move. Everything in my muscle in my body ached. I didn’t know what to do. I propped myself against the tree and froze. 

Two black sneakers coming towards me. I began crying harder. “What do you want from me!” I yelled at him. 

He paused for a moment before coming to crouch in front of me so that his face was at the same level as mine. “I don’t want anything from you, Josie,” he said softly to me. “I just want you.” 

Every bone in my body shook. The words themselves frightened me, but that wasn’t what made me scream. His eyes. They were a deep blue - a blue that I recognized and were the last thing I saw before I slipped into the darkness.