She woke up in her room feeling like she just had the worst dream in her life. Slowly getting up expecting to feel pain her legs reached over the edge of the bed but felt nothing. Creeping on silent feet she walked to the bathroom to look at herself, there were no signs of any beating or abuse.

The girl slowly walked to her door and opened it; listening to someone down stairs in the kitchen. Stealthily she crept down stairs and saw her father cooking as he was sung, "Oops I Did It Again," by Brittany Spears.

The girl walked in slowly holding on to the walls as she went unsure of what to expect.

"Hey sleepy head wants some chocolate chip pancakes, eggs, and bacon with some orange juice?"

The stool felt cool under her fingers as she slid into it before taking a plate. She watched the shadow move around the kitchen and waited.

The shadow turned to her and smiled, "eat her food before it gets cold."

Maybe it was all a dream.

She looked at the shadow, "is mom really gone?"

"Yes"

The girl looked down at her plate and finished eating. Once she was done she put her dishes in the sink and washed them before putting them away. She sat with her father in the living room and started to watch television. Her dad smiled down at her his eyes sparkling in the dim light, "What would you like to see?"

A small smile snuck up to her lips as thoughts of yesterday began to fade, "cartoons."

The shadow turned the channel and started to read the paper, as she sat contently watching her cartoons.

"Go get daddy a glass of cold water, darling."

"As soon as a commercial comes on"

Paper rustled as she turned to see what he was doing and was slapped in the face. A cry escaped her as the shadow laughed, "you will get daddy a cup of water now or ill rip the skin off of that pretty little face."

The girl ran and got the glass of water, tears streaking her face. The shadow started to drink the water, then spat it out; his eyes turned black and hollow, "You call this cold water?"

Shaking her head viscously she back up until the back of her legs touched the chair sitting in the corner of the living room, pleading and promising to get it right the next time. The shadow grabbed her by her hair and started to drag her to the basement. The little girl kicked and screamed, begging him not to take her down to the basement.

This is no dream it's a nightmare!