Disclaimer: see chapter one


"Dang it," Morgan grunted as her eyeliner pencil rolled underneath the dresser.

She wheeled her chair backwards, but the odd angle made it impossible to see the pencil. Morgan moaned impatiently.

"Mom," she called out.

A second later, her mother rushed into the room. "Yes, dear?" she asked.

Morgan pointed down at the foot of the dresser. "Can you get my eyeliner, please?"

Her mother stooped down, peeking underneath the dresser. Reaching in, she pulled out the pencil and handed it to her daughter.

"Thanks," Morgan mumbled, taking the pencil.

"Do you need any help getting ready?"

Morgan shook her head. "No, I'm good. Thanks."

"You sure?"

"Yes, mom. I'm fine."

Her mother nodded. "Okay. But if you need anything-"

"Mom, please. I said I'm good," Morgan snapped.

A hurt look passed over her mother's face, but it was quickly replaced by a smile. "Okay, honey," she said. "If you need anything, give a shout."

"Yeah," Morgan muttered as her mother left the room, closing the door behind her.

She looked at her reflection in the mirror. It was her first day back to school after three weeks of being in the hospital. In those three weeks, only one person from her group of friends had bothered to visit. She hadn't seen Christie or Shannon, and the way she was feeling, she didn't want to. When she was ready, Morgan wheeled out of her room and out into the kitchen. She grabbed a quick bite of breakfast before following her father out to the van. Her father had traded in their old car for a wheelchair accessible minivan. Morgan didn't want to know how much it cost.

When her chair was securely fastened, her father climbed in behind the wheel. Morgan stared out the window as he drove. She watched as the neighbourhood kids rode their bikes on their way to school. Her heart hammered angrily in her chest. That was supposed to be her. Soon, they were pulling into the parking lot of her high school. Her father parked by the door and got out. Morgan could see the students stop and stare as her father opened the side door and unhooked the clasps from her chair. The whispers started as soon as the wheels touched the pavement. Her father bent down and gave her a hug and kiss.

"Have a great day, kiddo," he said.

"Yeah. I'll try," Morgan stated, feeling everyone's eyes on her.

She wheeled herself towards the front door, keeping her eyes forward, but that didn't stop her from hearing. When she reached the front door she stopped. Clenching her jaw in determination, Morgan tried in vain to open the door. When all attempts to get inside failed, Morgan let the door swing closed. She shot her gaze to a group of boys that were standing watching her.

"A little help would be nice," she snapped. "Don't just stand there gawking at me like I'm stupid. Help me out."

One of the boys hurried over and quickly opened the door for her.

"Thanks," Morgan muttered, wheeling herself inside.

She was grateful that her school was only one level. If it had stairs she would have been screwed. She tried to ignore the pitying glances and whispers as she wheeled through the halls. Morgan found her locker and opened it, looking up at the high shelf. She sighed.

This was going to be a long day.


Morgan sat at her desk doing her homework, or at least attempting to do her homework. Her thoughts kept wandering to the waking nightmare that was her first day back to school. People either avoided her like she had the plague, or they were annoyingly helpful, doing every little thing for her, as if she couldn't write her own notes.

"It's my legs that are shot, not my hands," she had snapped at one girl who had offered to write out her notes for her.

In hindsight, she knew her classmate was only trying to be helpful. But, Morgan had been so irritated that she had just snapped. She put her pencil down, rubbing her tired eyes. It had been a long day, and her eyes were burning out of her skull. She looked out her bedroom window and frowned. On a rooftop across the street, it looked like someone was on one of the houses. Morgan slowly flipped off her desk lamp.

As she watched, three more shadowy figures joined the first. Her confusion deepened as she watched the figures interact. One of them shoved another, almost making the person fall off the roof. The first figure gestured for them to keep silent before taking off over the rooftops.

I didn't know we had neighbourhood watch in Brooklyn. But, I guess they're everywhere. But, then again, wouldn't neighbourhood watch work from the streets and not the rooftops?

As she watched, two of the others started after the first. However, the third stopped and looked towards her bedroom window. Morgan's heart skipped a few beats, eyes growing wide.

Are they really neighbourhood watch? she asked herself. Or are they something else?

The shadow turned towards something and ran off. Morgan released the breath she didn't know she had been holding. She jumped when a knock suddenly sounded on her bedroom door.

"Morgan? It's time for bed," her mother's voice carried through the door.

"Okay," Morgan called back.

She looked back out the window, but the shadows were gone. With her heart still pounding in her chest, Morgan started getting ready for bed. Her mother helped her get changed into her pajamas and to get into bed. Her mother kissed her on the forehead.

"Good night, sweetie."

"Night, mom."

Morgan watched as her mother walked out of the room and closed the door behind her. With one final look out the window, Morgan settled in for the night. Her eyes drifted closed and she fell into a world of shadowy figures that ruled the world.