"Miley!" my dad called, up the stairs. "Lilly and Oliver are here for you, honey! Come on down and see them!"

I stepped out of the bed and walked down the hallway. Then I cautiously crept down the stairs. I peeked out and made sure that it was actually Lilly and Oliver. Hey, you never can be too sure ...

When I saw it was them, I ran out to them.

"Hi, you guys," I said softly.

Lilly raced over and hugged me. "Miley, I am so glad that you're okay!" she exclaimed. She held me away at arm's length. "You are okay, right?" she asked, as she let me go.

"Yes, I'm okay," I mumbled into Oliver's shirt as he hugged me next.

It had been five days since I was attacked. I was too afraid to leave the house. I had barely slept in all that time - all I could see when I closed my eyes was the glint of the knife in the twilight.

I had never been like this before in my life. Suddenly, I was afraid of everything. And all because of that stupid man.

My father looked at me sympathetically. "Miles has had it bad these past few days, you guys. Don't worry if she seems on edge. She's been like that since the other night." My father's voice was quiet, but I could detect the rage just behind it. He wanted to make that man pay for scaring me.

"And they still haven't found the guy?" questioned Oliver, breaking me out of my thoughts.

My father sighed. "No, they haven't. I wish they would find him, though. He should go to jail before he scares someone else - or does something worse. And I think it would make Miley feel a lot better."

"Yes, it would," I said quietly. I shivered. I pictured him placing the knife against my throat and whispering, 'if I have to hurt them all in the process, well ... so be it ... so be it ... so be it.' I hadn't told my family or friends about that part.

Lilly draped her arm around my shoulders. "Don't worry, Miley. You're safe with us." She smiled, and added, "I have an idea that might cheer you up. Want to go to the mall?"

I hesitated. I wasn't sure. I glanced at the expectant faces of my two best friends, and I couldn't say no. "Ah, sure. Why not?"

Jackson came out of the living room. "What was that? You want to go to the mall? I'll take you guys."

I stared at him. "Who are you, and what have you done with the real Jackson?"

He smirked. "Very funny, Miles. I'm just glad to get you out of the house. You're really startin' to stink up the place!" he teased.

"Oh, shut up, Jackson," I cried, laughing.

The four of us headed to the car. I sat in the front passenger seat. Lilly and Oliver sat next to each other in the back. I noticed that they sat pretty close together. This made me smile. I had an inkling that Lilly and Oliver had a thing for each other.

Jackson started up the car and we began driving down the road. I was glancing back and forth in paranoia, looking at every person who was on the side of the road.

I noticed Jackson glancing at me. "Calm down, Miley."

"I can't help it! I'm afraid that he's going to find me," I fretted.

"We won't let him hurt you," spoke up Oliver from the back. "We'll take him down."

"If he so much as touches you once more, I'll kill him," spat Jackson in anger. He gripped the wheel tightly.

"And I'll help!" chimed in Lilly.

"You guys are the best," I said softly. I knew I was lucky to have people who cared about me so much in my life.

"I know I am," chuckled Jackson. "So, enough about about how cool I - oh crap."

"What is it? I asked in alarm. "What's the matter?"

It was only then that I noticed how fast we were going.

Jackson slammed his foot on the brake pad. "It's okay, it's okay, it's okay," he whispered over and over again. "It'll be okay, it will all be okay. Don't panic. It's okay."

The car did not slow down with the slamming of the brake pad.

"What's going on?" called Lilly from the backseat.

"The brakes won't work," said Jackson, hands clenching the wheel so tightly that his knuckles were white.

"What are we going to do?" demanded Oliver in a tight, frightened voice.

"We are going to go in ... here," said Jackson, turning onto a dirt road.

"What are you doing?" I cried in a voice squeaky from fear.

"Shhh," murmured Jackson, preoccupied. His eyes locked onto a space off the road, a field with long grass.

He steered the car onto the grass. "This should slow us down," he muttered under his breath.

The car slowed, but it kept going at an alarming rate. We were heading right for the trees.

"Jump out!" yelled Jackson. He reached over and opened my door. "Jump, Miley! Jump, you guys!"

I leapt for my life as the car headed for the trees.