Serena

“Serena."

"What?" I ask, not looking up from my laptop.

"What are you even looking for? It's hopeless. He's gone," Eric says. Kylie springs up and tackles Eric to the floor. She begins punching every available space on his body. He shields his face and yells at her to get off. I get up from the table and separate them. Kylie collapses onto the couch, pulls her knees up towards her chest, and cries.

"How dare you say it's hopeless!" I say, then proceed smack Eric across the face. "I heard him!! He's alive and I'm going to find him if it's the last thing I do. Don't you ever say it's hopeless ever again.” He nods and cradles his cheek.

“He did say Maryland,” Eric mutters.

“Well he’s not going to be there because he can’t control where the monster goes,” I snap back. This shuts him up.

Nick, Jordan, and Dawson had gone down the street to get us some lunch, so it was just the three of us at home. I was confined to the house for two reasons. Slender and they are starting to think I've lost my mind. Since they can't hear or see what I see, they don't trust me alone or outside. I sit back down in front of my laptop and search every news website, every article that may help us find Trenton. I've been doing this ever since I recovered from my voodoo doll incident two days ago. I type at lighting speed, searching for some trace of him. The door opens and Jordan enters followed by Dawson and Nick. They put the food on the table then go to put their jackets away. I get up and put my laptop in my bag by the door.

"Serena?" Kylie asks, wiping away her tears.

"Yeah? I reply, straightening the contents of my messy bag.

"Do you think you'll find him?" She looks so sad and I feel a lump form in my throat.

"I will find him if it's the last thing I do. I will search and search and I refuse to give up. You are going to have him back. I promise." I say, really meaning it. She gives me a sad smile, then goes into the kitchen to eat. I walk down the hall to wash my hands in the bathroom. I turn on the water and look up in the mirror for the first time in days. I tried to avoid the mirrors because I didn't want to see how I really looked. Truth is, I looked terrible. My eyes were sad and there were dark spots under them. My skin turned pale from being kept inside. My hair was cut unevenly, so I kept it up in a bun. Something moved in the corner of my eye and I whirled around to find a piece of paper on the floor behind me.

"It's hopeless. He'll be dead by the time you get here. You're so hopeful and it's so pitiful to see you like this. Don't worry. You'll be out of your misery soon. -M." I read. I yanked open the door and stomped down the hall. I shoved the note into Kylie's hand, sit at the table, and put my head in arms. Instead of feeling sadness, I'm angry. Angry for everything that's been happening. Angry for all the killings. I get up and go to the window. I look down and see her standing there. No one else down on the street sees her. She waves up at me and holds up the doll. Then the pain comes. My hand starts to slice down the back. Blood drips off it. I stare down at her. She starts on my other hand, which opens in an identical cut. She blows me a kiss, then disappears.