Shiver (4 page)

Grandma sat back into the couch cushions, bringing the teacup to her lips and taking a tentative sip. “Your mom and I have our issues, but she’s still my daughter. I may not always agree with her choices but I’ll always love and support her.”

My eyes burned and my shoulders ached. I leaned back and yawned. “I’m getting tired.”

Glancing at the clock, Grandma gave me a surprised look. “It’s only nine o’clock.”

“I know, but it’s been a long day.”

Before heading to bed I logged onto the computer to chat with Haley but she was offline. I checked her Facebook status.
Going to the movies with Derek tonight!

I rolled my eyes. After all that whining about how much she didn’t want me to leave. I should have known. No one back home missed me. They all had their own lives. I didn’t know why I expected anything different.

After changing into my flannel pajamas, I slipped into my bed. The sheets were warm and soft. I pulled the covers up to my chin and pressed my face into the sweet smelling pillow. Within minutes I drifted to sleep.

A loud monotonous chanting awakened me. I sat upright in bed and glanced around. The room was pitch-black. I wondered how come the bright streetlight wasn’t shining in my window like always and then I remembered I wasn’t home. The chanting quieted to barely above a whisper. I listened intently, honing in on the sound. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. I felt someone in my room. I heard someone breathing.

Sweat snaked down my back and my heart thumped in my chest. I froze, holding my breath. As my eyes adjusted to the darkness I could make out shapes. I gasped when I saw the figure of a man. He was standing at the foot of my bed, looming over me.