Prologue
The figure knelt over the body at the edge of the ruins. Nearby, a streetlamp crackled before succumbing to the night. Gray clouds tumbled closer. As the ocean waves crashed, the wind whipped against the figure’s black hood and rattled the chain-link fence.
Only those prayers went unanswered, as if the land had other ideas. The figure could almost hear its call, a wicked drumbeat, demanding more blood. The figure turned back to the body.
This girl—this child—sprawled lifeless on the gravel was far from the first to die on this land.
This child wouldn’t be the last.
And so, tucking the note within the girl’s sweatshirt pocket, the figure scanned the ruins once more, then vanished into the night.
October 4
Dear Diary,
I saw her again today. In the girls’ bathroom. I had just washed my hands when I heard a noise. A swish. I spun around as the tail of her long black shawl fluttered across the back wall. Just a flicker before disappearing into the bathroom stall.
The stall door rattled, and my heart stopped.
For a moment, I watched that door with my feet frozen in place, hands dripping water on the floor.
I didn’t dare take a breath. I wanted to sprint for the exit and never look back, but some reckless part of me had to face it.
Had to find out for sure. Legs quivering, I forced two quick strides and flung open the door.
She was gone, of course. Vanished, like the ghost she is.
But I know what I saw.
She’s following me.