Alice's dream was more horrifying than usual. She was curled up on the floor, her arms hugging her knees to her chest. For some reason, she was sobbing uncontrollably. It was nighttime, the lightning indicating an approaching storm. Alice knew she should get up off the floor, but she couldn't. All she could do was cry.

~Where am I?~ Alice wondered in the rational part of her mind. She found herself unable to talk through her shoulder-wracking sobs. ~This place feels familiar...~ Through her tears, she noticed the polished tile floor, puddles of her own tears under her.

~Wait, I know this floor,~ Alice said to herself. ~I'm in Hunt's house. But why am I here?~ She racked her mind for an explanation. Why was she at her friend's house?

A high-pitched shriek came from outside the house, carried over with the wind. It rolled in through the open window and fell onto Alice's shoulders. ~No,~ she tought fearfully. ~It's still after me! No!~ She found herself in another state of hysteria, a memory flashing past her eyes.

"Alice, run!" Hunt shouted, grabbing her around the shoulders. They were in Hunt's backyard, heading for the back door that led to the kitchen, to saftey. Alice felt the tears flow steadily down here face as Hunt guided her. The wind threatened to whip them back, Alice's hair blowly freely behind her.

"Almost there..." Hunt quickly fumbled with the doorknob. As he yanked the door open, a shriek erupted behind them. Suddenly, Alice felt Hunt's comforting arm yanked from her. She whirled around, crying out for Hunt.

He was being dragged across the grass, something wrapped around his ankle. It looked like a rope, but it was pinkish in color, as if a giant frog had ensnared her friend. He was screaming, desperately trying to wrench his ankle from the rope's clutches.

"Hunt!" Alice cried out. She started to run after him, The wind pushing against her.

"No! Alice! Run into the house!" Hunt commanded, his face twisted into an expression of fear. "I'll be fine! Just run into the house and shut the door!"

Tears streaming down her cheeks, Alice was consumed by uncertainty. What should she do? Hunt was her friend and obviously in trouble. But whatever had gotten Hunt would certainly be too powerful for her to take down. But Hunt was her only friend left. Darren, Anthony, and Burnie were all already dead. There was no one left to comfort and protect her except for Hunt...

Sobbing, Alice stumbled into the house, shutting the door behind her.

Alice felt the cold wind roll over her back. She was wearing a raggedy, sleeveless tank top and an equally raggedy pair of shorts. Her hair was unwashed and more stringy than usual. Her shoulders and back were sticky and smeared with dust, dirt, and blood.

Fear. All Alice could do was cry. She heard them outside the building she was in. The menacing growls. The earth-shaking roars. The ear-piercing shrieks. They were out there, and they wanted to kill her. Yet she couldn't move, she could only wallow in sadness. Hunt was dead. For all she knew, he could be one of them now. Now all her friends wanted to kill her...

She gripped her shins more tightly, feeling her nails piercing her skin and the blood flowing down her legs. Still sobbing, Alice withdrew her hands from her legs and held them in front of her eyes, trembling at the sight.

Her fingers had turned into wickedly sharp claws. She could no longer bend her fingers; they were completely stiff. Blood dotted the tips, droplets sneaking down to her palms.

~No!~ Alice screamed while she cried. ~NO!~

It was hopeless. All her friends were either dead of turned. And now she was turning...

Alice awoke from her nightmare with a scream.