Credit goes to the movie "Paranormal Activity."

(Monday, August 14, 2006 ~ Day 1 ~ 1:53 A.M.)

Jackson shot up in the bed, breathing fast. He took several deep breaths, trying to calm himself. He wiped the sweat from his forehead, then looked at the clock, ignoring the camera that pointed toward him. The boy sighed, then laid back down, soon falling into a restless sleep.


(Monday, August 14, 2006 ~ Day 1 ~ 10:02 A.M.)

Jackson slumped down the stairs, rubbing his tired eyes. He stepped into the kitchen, where he found Melissa sitting at the table, sipping her coffee.

"Good morning," the girl said.

"Morning." Jackson yawned, opened the refrigerator, then pulled out a two-liter bottle of sprite. He poured some into a cup, then took a seat across Melissa, drinking his beverage.

The girl watched him. "I don't know how you drink that stuff in the mornings. That'd make me jumpy. I can't have anything until I've had my coffee."

Jackson just shrugged.

"So how's the documentary coming?"

"It sucks. Nothing's happening that's camera-worthy. My life is so boring."

Melissa looked at him. After a moment, she cleared her throat. "Hello?"

"Except for you. You're the exciting part."

Melissa smiled. "It takes time. You know that, Jackson."

"I guess."

"When's it due?"

"October sixteenth." He popped his knuckles, then stretched his arms over his head, yawning.

"What happened?"

The boy was confused. "What are you talking about?"

"To your arm."

Jackson looked at it.

Three long scratches traveled up his forearm, surrounded by dried blood.

He put the tips of two of his fingers onto the wound, then quickly pulled them away.

"What did you do?" The girl was curious.

"I don't know."


(Monday, August 14, 2006 ~ Day 1 ~ 10:11 A.M.)

Melissa set her coffee mug into the sink, then went back to grab the empty cup that once contained sprite. She found that Jackson was still studying his arm. "Does it hurt?"

"It just started stinging really bad."

"Well, quit messing with it."

"I'm not."


(Monday, August 14, 2006 ~ Day 1 ~ 5:38 P.M.)

"I think you scratched me." Jackson leaned on the counter.

Melissa sat at the table. "I think you scratched yourself."

"Me? I don't have fingernails."

"You do, too. You-"

Jackson noticed the camera that sat on the counter in the corner of the kitchen.

Melissa kept speaking in the background.

He walked toward the video recorder, talking in a baby voice. "You doing okay? You good?"

Melissa was quiet, watching him with a smile.

Jackson observed the camera, while it got a shot of him, with Melissa in the background. "You got enough batteries? Your disk need to be changed?"

The girl laughed. "You're supposed to be in love with me--not the camera."