• Chapter Three


    tab I felt it. Death licked the back of my neck with a cold breath and chill.
    tab “Are you ready for your death?” he asked. I froze where I stood and he took the cool blade of a knife to my throat. Almost swiftly he sliced a thin line where the skin on my neck immediately parted. Bitter smelling blood streaked down and gurgled out my mouth. My knees gave way and I fell. My hands rapidly clutched my open throat. He didn’t catch me. He came around to look at me. Seeing the last thing I could, I saw him smirking quietly. “You’re finished,” he commented and walked away.


    tab I woke up in the charter bus screaming. Every face peered at me like I was crazy. After a moment or two of screaming, I realized nothing was happening.

    tab “Are you going to be ok?” asked Lizabeth. “’Cause if you feel like puking, you should know that we’re almost there.”

    tab “Wait,” I said, calming myself. “Where are we? What are you talking about?”

    tab “Well. . . “She started.

    tab “Liz’ trying to say that she’s worried that you might be sick,” finished Derrick. “We are going to the beach, if you still remember. Student council did send you an invite, didn’t they?” I stared at him confused and thinking hard. Then it struck. I remembered that on the day I received Calvin’s letter, I had also received an invite. It was on the bottom of the pile of mail I got.

    “Luna” it said.
    “You are here by invited to join your classmates on a spring trip to the beach. As you know, there is a trip every year and this year, due to your outstanding achievements, it would be an honor to have you join us this year.” It was signed by the student council and principal.

    tab I shuddered at the forgotten memory. “Oh,” I finally said. “I remember.” But I really didn’t remember. The invite was at the bottom of my mind just as it was at the bottom of my pile of mail. At the top mind were the memories of past friends and family dying before my eyes along with the letter I had received from Calvin.

    tab The charter bus suddenly ran over a bump in the road and everyone moved. Afterwards, the bus came to a stop. I looked out the window and among the thin forest of palm trees and sand were little brown huts and cabins.

    tab “Alright,” spoke Mrs. Turner, addressing her students. “You’ll get off the bus and find your luggage. Then, you’ll be paired with a partner to find your cabin or hut by the number you get.” Her speaking was quickly drowned out by happy squealing and cheers outbursts from the teenagers getting off the charter. I was one of the last people to get off the bus. I looked outside at my anxious acquaintances. I wasn’t anxious; not at the least.

    tab “Watch your back . . .” were Calvin’s last words to me. I instantly spun around at a finger touch on my shoulder. I whipped my hand with my turn and knocked down Dakota Reed. He sat on the aisle floor of the charter bus and had his hands held up at me.

    tab “Whoa Luna. I didn’t mean to do anything. Just wanted to tell you to hurry up.”

    tab “Oh. I’m sorry,” I apologized and got off the bus. Mrs. Turner was already calling out partners and numbers. Lizabeth came up to me.

    tab “Yay! Luna! We’re partners,” she exclaimed. I forced myself to smile, despite my wallowing. The afternoon passed quickly after this. We got settled in our cabin and ate lunch. We showered and were called to campfire. After an hour of story-telling and forced singing, we were allowed to go back to sleep and everyone returned to their cabins for sleep in preparations for the sunny beach day tomorrow.

    tab In my bed, I tossed and turned. Falling asleep wasn’t a choice right now. I was afraid to have another nightmare. But in the end, I ended up falling asleep around three in the morning. And I did have a dream. Though it was not a nightmare, I didn’t want to wake up from it.


    I was walking on the beach; it was sunset. The waves rolled back and forth slowly, awaiting low tide. Tonight was, like any other night would be, romantic. I heard a voice call my name. I turned my head and to my hearts content Aaron stood with his arms out smiling at me. Calvin stood beside him. Some feet behind them were mommy and daddy walking. They smiled too. I ran to Aaron’s embrace, tears strolled off my face and caught in the night breeze. He caught me in delight and I was in fantasy land. But after a moment of embrace, Aaron let me go and stared hard at my face. I peeked over at Calvin and my mom and dad. They seemed distracted and fearful. I looked back at Aaron. He shook his head while Calvin spoke.

    tab “Luna, be careful. Okay? He’s here. He’s here and he is coming for you. If you don’t watch your back, he might strike. Be careful,” Calvin murmured.

    tab “I love you. Sorry I can’t be with you,” said Aaron. “I miss you.”

    tab “Luna, darling,” said mommy. “Be careful.”

    tab “Take care,” echoed daddy.

    tab And that was the end of my dream. As pleasant or unpleasant as it was, I wished that I was able to reminisce in it a bit longer.


    tab I woke up to the light that entered my window. Lizabeth had already gotten up and ready. She smiled enthusiastically at me and told me how excited she was this morning. I listened, but doubt clouded my thoughts. According to my dream, Calvin said that there would be another attack. The question is. . . . when?