Jessica Lester´s life changed a rainy day in October. And even though that day was the day that changed her life forever, she can only vaguely remember it.
To Jessica, this started off just an ordinary autumn day. This was one of those days when it felt like the sky had opened itself and it rained from dusk til´ dawn without even once stopping.
Jessica, or Jess as she wanted to be called by her friends (or she thought she would if she had any), sat by her window on Jackson Street and looked out on all the young children, playing around in the puddles with their colorful raincoats and galoshes.
Just across the street from Jess´ house there had once been another house, identical to the one she lived in, but for some reason they tore that house down and replaced it with a playground. Though it wasn't one of those happy playgrounds, where children run around chasing each other and screaming with laughter as the swing lifts you higher and higher.
No. This was a playground where, if you run around chasing each other, at least one of you have a constant risk of tripping over a nasty root that later magically disappears and one where the swing lifts you higher and higher only with the intention of throwing you off and maybe succeed in breaking your neck or back.

"That is an evil playground Jessica, evil" her grandmother always said to her. She told Jessica stories about unfortunate children who fell of the seesaw and were now unable to walk and children who fell and broke an arm or two even though the lawn was as flat as she was fat. She also told Jessica about the swings.
"Have I ever told you about those swings Jessica?" Her old croaky voice always said and she never gave Jessica enough time to even open her mouth.
"Those swings are cursed. There used to be three but after Joe Fasbetts death they blamed the swing and took it down." They blamed a swing for murder; does that mean they didn't think it was an accident?
"And now were left with only two, but hear my words Jessica those are as cursed as the one who gave Fasbetts his last ride. Just look at them, always going back and forth… creaking" and she was right. By now Jessica had gotten used to the sound of the swings but if she stopped and actually listened she could always hear the old rusty chains creaking.
"and listen to me when I say that all of this, everything that has happened here, they are not just accidents, I have lived here long enough to know that this whole town is evil. I grew up here, just like you´re doing, and I have experienced some horrible and unbelievable things." the grandmother preached in front young Jessica, who after that always sped up as she walked past the playground and never joined any of the other children outside when they were playing.
And maybe this was contributing to her being alone now at the age of 14, but she´d be lying to herself if she said she didn't feel a bit uneasy every time she was close to that playground. She didn't want to be close to that thing.
More often than not children would walk out of that playground crying or screaming, and she would always look out the window when she heard that oh so familiar sound of a crying child. Why? Well she didn't know that.
The children were often all right; just a scrape on the cheek or a bruised knee but something inside spoke to her and told her to look out that widow.
What if someone actually
(died)
hurt themselves really bad?

Across the street and just a few minutes to the right were Derrys two motels, Koala and Holiday Inn. During the summer tourists would come to Derry and during the winter, families who came to visit a relative, or young adults visiting a close friend from collage or High school. So it wasn't unusual with new faces or strangers, at least not on this street. Jess had always wanted to put up a warning sign on the fence surrounding the playground, to protect the newcomers and their children.

WARNING
Do not enter this playground without parents.
Parents be aware! This playground
will try to kill your child.

Trying to focus on the book she´s holding in her hands a quiet mumble escapes her lips
"Come on, Jess, they´re all right and you´re all right, what are thinking about?"
But something didn't feel right; she felt it in her chest, in her stomach, everywhere.
Stress? Anxiety? No, no, no. This felt
(dangerous)
different.

Unable to concentrate she put the book down and looked at the clock, twenty minutes past three.
The room was cold, and dark. It had rained for almost a week now, but about two days ago it had started to blow as well. That's when the power went out.

As Jessica walks down the stairs she notices how very quiet it is.
"Mom? Dad?"
Silence.
As she approaches the kitchen she sees the yellow-ish paper that mom always uses to leave notes to her.
"Well I can´t use the expensive paper just to leave you a note now can I?"
A smile starts to form on Jessica's face while she reads the note.

At Tozier´s, Home late.
Prepared broccoli-pie, in refrigerator.
Take some lemon cake to dessert.
Love, Mom

It wasn't unusual for her parents to visit their friends around the neighborhood, they often did so and they always came home very late.
When they started to spend the evenings with the neighbors Jess would sometimes come with them.
Now, only the thought about going with her parents to the Tozier´s make her uncomfortable.
They weren't mean or anything, in fact that Tozier boy, Richie she remembered, was quite nice. He always tried to make her laugh and he never stopped talking. But it felt good, because even though she didn't have anything to say, someone spoke to her and seemed to enjoy it.
But just being there with her parents when they´re so different, she couldn't take it.

But at the memory of Richie her smile grows.
He looks quite innocent with his enormous glasses and unbuttoned shirts, but he has a foul mouth that often leads to him being beaten up after school.
School. Her smile fades.

Her gaze now leaves the note and wanders around the kitchen; it feels quiet, too quiet. Jessica´s gaze lands on the kitchen clock above the stove.
Half past three.
The Feeling comes again, everywhere. It doesn't feel right; something isn't right, but what?

Without thinking about it she starts to put on her raincoat and galoshes.
And after a moment's hesitation she walks out of the front door.
Jessica Lester could feel the wind pulling her clothes, pulling all of Jessica away from the door and out. The wind was much stronger than she expected, but it didn't rain as much as before.
If she wasn't buried so deep in this new strange Feeling, taking over her mind and all of her thoughts she might have asked herself why the front door closed itself with the wind blowing the other direction, or why the wind was so eager to drag her out of her house or maybe why the swings just across the street stood completely still.