~ this is not edited. you are a reader, your job is to read. please do not criticize. kisses!~

Sierra raised her head as her English teacher, Mr. Johnson, called her name.

"Sierra, what did you think of the reading last night?"

To be honest, she hadn't even read the chapter of Lord of the Flies, she'd been too busy watching her little sister, Renee. Renee had been so difficult, she just hadn't found the time for her homework.

"Sierra?" Mr. Johnson asked as he grew impatient. "I'm not getting any younger you know."

"Um...uh"

Suddenly the bell rang, signaling the end of the school day.

"You got lucky this time, Sierra. Next time, please do your homework."

Sierra ducked her head and hurried out of the classroom, where her boyfriend, Jesse, was waiting.

"You excited for tonight?"

Jesse was taking her to the Big Red game that night. He knew they were her favorite football team- She'd spent most of her childhood in Steubenville, Ohio.

"Very" she replied, with enthusiasm in her voice. It was her first time seeing them play live, and she couldn't wait!

"Good" Jesse smiled and pecked her on the lips."See you at six"

With that, he turned and went in the direction of his locker, whilst Sierra started in the opposite direction towards her own. Smiling to herself, she gathered her things and drove home, certain that tonight would be perfect. Little did she know of the danger that was waiting for her at the one place she felt safe.

***

Sierra parked her car on the road in front of her house, singing along to Absolutely by Nine Days, and grinning uncontrollably. She locked the car and headed up her driveway, still singing softly to herself. She heard a twig snap behind her, and then another.

Shaking with fear, Sierra slowly turned around, obviously terrified of what would be behind her. Another twig snapped and she jumped, looking in the direction of the noise, trying to find the source.

She spotted something moving, and her breath hitched. She peered into the darkness, and the shadow crept closer. Then it ran full speed towards Sierra, who remained frozen where she stood, not out of choice, but because she was paralyzed with fear. Sierra did, however, manage to choose her eyes, and didn't open them until the...the...whatever it was stopped moving.

She heard a meow, and, now curious, opened her eyes. She looked down, only to find her cat, Cherio. Sierra sighed a breath of relief, picked up the cat, and walked up the stairs that led to the porch. Cherio began meowing and thrashing around, so she put him down.

She fumbled with her purse, trying to find her keys. Suddenly, a hand wrapped around her waist, and a rag that smelled awful was placed over her nose and mouth.

Sierra tried to scream, but she was losing consciousness. She only managed to mumble against the rag. She felt her limbs become limp, and she finally succumbed to the overwhelming darkness that her mind was becoming.