Chapter 1

I picked my way through the wet grass and pulled my thin cardigan around my cold body. The air was damp and a thick layer of fog obscured my vision in front of me. I kept on walking though. I didn't know where I was or where I was going, I just knew I was going somewhere. A sense of uncertainty gripped my body and I suddenly felt very vulnerable, like a child who had suddenly lost sight of their mother in a shopping center. Panic. Suddenly, in front of me a saw a figure. Tall. Slim. I called out trying to get their attention but I got no response. I carried on getting closer and closer, squinting to see if I could make out who the stranger was. I knew it was a man, I couldn't see his face, I just knew. As I approached the man, he started to turn his head and...

I woke up with a start. Staring up at the black ceiling, it wasn't anywhere near morning. I looked at my alarm clock on my bedside table and sure enough it was 2:00 am. I lay back and contemplated the dream I had just had. The same dream I'd had several nights before. Who was this strange boy I kept dreaming about? Why did I keep dreaming about him? Was there a hidden message behind his appearance in my dreams? So many questions. I rolled over and switched on my light, picking up my phone in the process. No new messages. What a surprise. I tossed it to the end of my bed and sunk into the pillows. Work experience started in a few hours and I'd never be able to get up if I didn't try and get some more sleep. I switched off the light again and my room was once again pitch black. Closing my eyes I hoped I wouldn't have the confusing dream again, unless now I could figure out who the boy was.

"BEEP BEEP BEEP". My alarm clock dragged me unwillingly from my now dreamless sleep and I flung my hand at the snooze button. I really am not a morning person at all and 6 o'clock starts really do not help this. I sat up, swung my legs over the side of the bed and sighed. I wasn't too sure about my choice of work experience this year. I know any other teenage girl would have jumped at the chance of working at the ITV studios in London for a week but it really wasn't my forte. I wasn't interested in the media business for my career, I found it all very fake and brutal. I was more interested in getting my degree in Psychology and working with the legal system. But work experience with Criminal Profilers isn't that easy to obtain so I had to settle for a week working with my Aunt.
I stepped into the shower and turned the switch, making the water come out as hot as I could stand and I let the water cascade over my thin body. I stared at the wall, once again thinking about the strange reoccurring dream I kept having. I told myself to stop over thinking things and started to wash my hair. Once I was done I slipped out and grabbed a fluffy white towel from the radiator and wrapped it around myself. I quickly brushed my teeth and ran a towel through my hair, trying to sponge out some of the dripping water in an attempt to get it just a bit drier.
I sprinted the small distance from my bathroom to my bedroom and grabbed a white shirt and black skirt from my wardrobe throwing them onto my bed. I slipped on some underwear and then my clothes. I then quickly applied my makeup and ran a brush through my thick hair. I almost tripped as I stretched too far for my hair dryer, cursing as I did so. Once my hair was dry I skipped down the stairs and into the kitchen.
"Morning darling, good nights sleep?" My mum cheerfully greeted me. It always astounded me how my mum could be so bright so early in the morning.
"It was okay. I had that dream again." I mumbled back picking at the toast that was lying pathetically on my plate.
"Oh, don't let a dream get to you! You should know what dreams are! They're just your subconscious running wild! Now eat your breakfast quickly, you really don't want to be late for your first day of work experience. You want to make a good..."
"Yes I know mum" I interjected. " I need to make a good impression because I need a good reference. I've heard it about fifty times this past week, Mum!"
"Well at least you're actually listening to what I'm saying, lets just hope your taking it in." Sighed my mum as she stirred two mugs of tea.
"I am, I am" I said under my breath, taking a bite of my toast. "What time train am I getting?"
"The 7:45 to London Waterloo, please don't miss it darling and please give yourself enough time to get it. I know what you're like."
"Yes Mum! I won't miss it don't worry I'm going to leave now" I protested, throwing my hands up in the air in my defence.
I pushed my chair out and shuffled over to my mother standing at the sink and wrapped my arms around her neck.
"I'll see you later, okay?" I reassured her. "And I promise I'll be on time, be good, make an effort and thank everyone".
"Good. I'll see you later. Have a good time and PLEASE be careful on the trains! I love you"
"I love you too Mum" I called, walking out of the kitchen and down the hall.
I slipped on my black heels and black blazer that I had purchased especially for the work experience. It wasn't my usual attire but it worked and it was appropriate. I picked up my bag from the bottom of the stairs. Here goes I breathed, working my way through the piles of toys my younger sister had left in the hall, over to the front door. Opening the latch I told myself to just try and enjoy myself today, anything could happen. Anything at all.