*Note: Italics are the girl's thoughts.*

It was a dark and stormy night. The rain was pounding on the window and thunder shock the small house. I was sitting in my kitchen reading a book and drinking hot tea. I had a candle lit and the smell of vanilla was overwhelming. I paused in reading when the candle started violently flickering. I stared at it as the shadows danced around me. Then just as suddenly as it started it calmed. I sighed and closed my book.

"I wish the power would come back on," I mumbled. I stood up and stretched. Well at least I have this candle, I thought.

At that exact moment a gush of wind came through and forced the window open. The candle went out and darkness filled the cozy little house.

"Great." I stood still for a minute so my eyes could adjust. "Window, close the window." I stumbled over to the open the window. As I reached out to shut the window lightning flashed and I saw a face in front of me. I instantly jumped back with a squeak.

"What the hell?" I cautiously peered out the window. Without a second thought I grabbed the window and locked it.

"Okay, that was freaky." I turned around and glanced around. The house was eerie when it was dark. The rain and thunder didn't help the case either. I started walking to the kitchen counter where I left extra matches. As I fumbled around for them my hand hit something sharp. "Ow!" I pulled my hand back and felt something warm run down my palm. "Wonderful," I walked over to the sink and turned on the water. I let the water run over my injured hand. If only I could find those dang matches then I could see how bad the cut is…. what did I even cut my hand on anyway. I glanced behind me, but of course saw nothing but shapes. I grabbed what I assumed to be a towel and put it on my hand.

"Where the crap did I put those matches?" I walked back over to the counter were I thought I put them when I kicked something. I looked down and squinted. "Are those…?" I bent down and picked up the box. "Oh good," I opened the box and produced the match. Before I could strike it I heard a noise from outside.

SCRATCH! SCRATCH!

"Um…"I dropped the towel and quickly lit a match. The flame made the shadows dance. I looked in awe as I saw the shapes dance. Stupid, light the candle! I shook my head and lit the candle. As my eyes adjusted I looked down at my hand. It was bleeding pretty badly. I closed my eyes and silently cursed. "Well this sucks," I said as I went to a drawer and pulled out a first aid kit. I pulled out a bandage and put it on. "It will have to do for now. I hope it doesn't get worse." I looked back at the counter to see what could have cut me.

Nothing was there. I turned my head side to side, investigating the counter. "This doesn't make sense. I had to cut my hand on something, hands don't just start randomly bleeding." I walked to the other side of the counter when I noticed a knife on the ground. "Ah, silly me. I must have left it on the counter after making dinner." I bent down and picked up the knife. "Yep there is definitely blood on this." I tossed the knife into the sink.

KNOCK! KNOCK! A knock at the door startled me. "Who the crap is out in this weather? They must be crazy!" I walked to the front door.

"Hello!?" I called out, "Who's there?" …No answer….. "Stupid kids…"

KNOCK! KNOCK! Another round of knocks came from the door.

I hesitated before I looked out through the peep-hole.

I saw a man standing there. He was tall and slim. He had dark hair and a small black goatee. He wore a white fur hat with spots along the rim. He looked menacing but also a little cold. So of course being the nice, stupid person I was, I unlocked the door and opened it up.

"Can I help you?" I asked vigorously. Realizing I said that so forcefully I immediately apologized. "Oh, sorry I didn't mean to sound cruel." I paused eyeing the man. "Would you like to come in? You look pretty soaked. Don't want to be catching colds now." I gestured into my home.

"…." Silence is what the man gave me back. He walked in without taking his eyes off of me.

"Um, how 'bout I get you a towel?"

No response. I shut the door and walked briskly to the bathroom. I came back to the man with the towel in hand and gave it to him. He took it without saying a word, but his eyes never left me.

"So what's your name?" I asked as he dried himself off. I noticed he had a tattoo on each of his fingers. DEATH, it spelt, wonderful I let a freak into my home.

"Law." The man said.

"Excuse me?"

"My name is Law."

"Oh, well, hello Law. I am Kathren." What type of name is that? "What are you doing out in the storm?" I asked.

"Nothing in particular."

"I see." He's kind of awkward. "Well I really don't want you to stay if you won't tell me why you are here."

He paused from drying himself off and looked at me. "I don't want to be a bother but I need to stay until the storm passes. There will be no possible way for me to make it through that mess."

I tilted my head at this explanation, "I suppose you are right, It is bad out." I sighed," I guess you can stay tell the morning."

"Thank you."

"ya…um…you can sleep on the couch. I got some extra blankets around here some place." I walked toward a closet and pulled out some old blankets. "Well here you go." I handed him the blankets.

Something about him seems familiar…I wonder if we meet somewhere before? Before I could study him any further he took the blankets and walked to the couch. He laid down and instantly fell asleep.

"Okay… goodnight." I shook my head and got the candle. I carried the candle to my room and shut and locked the door. "Better safe then sorry." I put the candle down next to my bed and crawled in. The last thing I saw was the shadows dancing around in my room before I fell into a deep sleep.