+chapter.five+

Jennifer and Rachelle had been up in her room for maybe fifteen minutes when the phone rang. It was Rachelle's father saying he needed her home to help with something. Sadly, Rachelle left, promising to call and try to come over later. After about fifteen more minutes passed, Jennifer was walking downstairs in stocking feet, singing softly to herself on the way to check the mail. She was home alone and it was a daily thing for her.

Jenn peeked out the door and looked at the mailbox hung on the side of the house. The mail was there, so she opened the door, went out, picked it up then went back in the house again. After locking the door, she looked through the mail as usual. She looked down strangely at an envelope, with no return address, addressed to her.

Slowly, Jennifer turned it over and opened it. She pulled a folded up piece of paper from it and opened it, glancing over the words quickly. Her breathing quickened and her hands began to shake.

Slowly, so slowly, she pulled a few pictures from the envelope. She let out a small shriek as she turned and tried running out the door. Forgetting it was locked; she hit it with her hand then turned the lock.

"Going so soon? I just got here," a voice came from behind.

Jennifer, eyes wide and frightened, turned for only a second to see a figure dressed in black. She yanked the door open and ran out; running as fast as her feet would go.

Crying, frightened, and shaking, she ran. Help. She needed help. Lost in her awful, frightened thoughts, she wasn't paying attention to where she was going. Even if she had been thinking clearly, she wouldn't be able to see through her tear filled eyes. Before she knew it, she was on the ground and pulled from her thoughts.

"Jenn? Oh my God, Jenn are you okay?" came a male voice.

Jennifer cried harder, knowing the oh-so-familiar voice.

"Jenn..." Zachary's voice trailed, soft and concerned. He slowly pulled her in his arms. What was the matter? Why was she crying? Jenn didn't cry over small things. Well, she never used to. "Jenn, what's the matter?"

Slowly, Jennifer pulled herself from his arms. With tears still rolling down her cheeks, she raised a shaking hand that surprisingly still had the envelope in it.

Confused, Zac took the envelope and pulled the paper and pictures from it. "Oh my God," he gasped. The letter had been a threat, "I'm going to get you," spelled out as if it were a ransom note.

Zachary's fear for his friend grew deeper as he looked at the pictures. They were of her. Each was taken from a different place. One was her getting off her bus, one from outside the window of her room, and the last from the window in her math class. He looked over at her, his eyes wide with horror.

Zachary pulled Jennifer into a tight hug, rocking her slightly. "He was in there..." Jennifer trailed in his shoulder, her voice barely above a whisper.

"What?"

"He was in my house," Jennifer spoke louder, her voice wavering. "He was right there. He got in. Every door was locked and he still got in."

Zac's heart was racing before he heard her. Now he was scared witless. "C'mon, let's go to my place."

Jennifer nodded. She just wanted to be safe.

Zac got up slowly and helped Jennifer up. He was still in his blades and had skated around town some. Ike left him right after leaving Jenn's.

Quickly, the two walked to the Hanson house, both afraid they were being watched.