(Saturday, September 23, 2006 ~ Day 41 ~ 1:05 A.M.)

The camera lens pointed toward the hallway and the bed, where Jackson and Melissa lay asleep.

The door suddenly began to close, but stopped halfway. After a moment, it opened up again.

(Saturday, September 23, 2006 ~ Day 41 ~ 11:28 P.M.)

"Good morning, Jackson."

"Morning, Mel." The boy turned, then gave Melissa a kiss when she bent down.

"Reviewing the tape?"

"Yup."

(Saturday, September 23, 2006 ~ Day 41 ~ 3:56 P.M.)

"What was the point of doing this?" Jackson pushed the bedroom door softly, checking how much force is needed to open and close it. "Was this part of your master plan: to open the door?"

(Monday, September 25, 2006 ~ Day 43 ~ 4:41 P.M.)

"So how are you guys doing?" Nathan asked Melissa.

Lex, Taylor, Eric, Melissa, and Jackson sat in the living room of Nathan and Daley's house.

The girl answered. "It's okay. There hasn't been any dragging or hitting or anything like that since you guys left."

Jackson looked away from the group, a bit embarrassed.

Daley said, "Well, that's good."

(Wednesday, September 27, 2006 ~ Day 45 ~ 10:49 P.M.)

"Go ahead. Say it."

Jackson looked at the girl.

"I'm waiting."

The boy turned his head away, looking straight ahead. "You were right, Melissa. I was wrong. The psychic has helped."

(Thursday, September 28, 2006 ~ Day 46 ~ 10:12 P.M.)

Jackson's leg jumped up and down impatiently as he sat on the couch, his arm around his girlfriend, who had practically forced him to watch one of her chick flicks with her.

(Thursday, September 28, 2006 ~ Day 46 ~ 10:16 P.M.)

Jackson's leg stopped jumping as he tensed, closing his eyes, preparing himself.

Melissa looked at him. "What's wrong?"

The boy didn't answer for a moment. But when nothing happened, he relaxed, then spoke. "I thought it was gonna-" His head turned toward the girl forcefully. "…hit me." He gently held his cheek.

"Are you okay?" Melissa said worriedly.

"Yeah. I'm fine." He violently whipped his head the other way, losing his balance. He caught himself before his head could hit the seat of the couch, landing on his forearms. He stayed that way for a moment as he recovered.

Melissa pulled him toward her gently, letting him rest his head on hers.

(Sunday, October 1, 2006 ~ Day 49 ~ 8:26 A.M.)

Melissa followed Jackson out of the bedroom, camera in hand.

"I'm gonna drop you off at Nathan's while I'm at work so--ahh!"

"Jackson!" Melissa rushed down the stairs, then bent down next to the boy, who was on the floor after tumbling down the stairs. "Are you okay?!"

"Yeah." Jackson pushed himself into a sitting position, leaning against the wall. "I'm fine."

"What happened?"

"It felt like something shoved me down the stairs." He rested his head on the wall. "My shoulder hurts." The boy massaged it with one hand.

Melissa studied it. "It looks like it's dislocated." After a moment, she stood, then grabbed his free hand and helped him up. "C'mon. You're gonna have to get this fixed."

(Tuesday, October 3, 2006 ~ Day 51 ~ 2:53 P.M.)

"I got the mail," Melissa called from downstairs.

Jackson lay on the bed in the room, the camera in its original spot, watching him. He rested with his eyes closed. "What is it?"

"Bills…bills…junk mail…sales papers…and more bills."

Suddenly, Jackson's arms were forced next to his head. He tried to look at them, but his eyes wouldn't open. He felt a heavy pressure on his chest as the bed sunk in deeply. He couldn't breath. He tried to yell for help, but his mouth wouldn't open. He couldn't make a sound.

"Did you hear me?" Melissa said.

The boy couldn't answer. His head began moving from side to side rapidly, his cheeks turning red, gaining scrapes and marks.

"Jackson? I'm talking to you."

It was obvious that Jackson was struggling to take a breath. He was pushed further into the bed, the weight on his chest growing.

"Hello? Don't ignore me." Melissa's footsteps started up the stairs slowly.

The camera can now see her looking down at the mail in her hand.

When she is halfway up the staircase, she pauses, tears open an envelope, then begins reading the letter inside.

Jackson still can't move himself, but his head hasn't stopped moving from side to side. He can't manage a small noise--a cry for help. He's moments away from running out of oxygen. He wanted to cry, but the tears wouldn't fall.

Melissa walked up another step, still reading.

The pressure finally lets up.

Jackson's head is no longer moving from side to side. Now in control of himself, he hurriedly rolled off of the bed, pulling himself along the floor until he was out of the bedroom. He took deep, shaky breaths, panting for air.

Melissa looked up from the mail. She rushed toward the boy, sitting on her knees next to him. She pulled him into a hug, rocking him back and forth.

(Wednesday, October 4, 2006 ~ Day 52 ~ 6:07 P.M.)

"I don't know how to describe it. But I couldn't move. I couldn't speak. I couldn't open my eyes. I couldn't control my body. Something kept hitting me repetitively. I couldn't stop it." The boy was still trembling, sitting on the couch next to Melissa.

Footsteps could be heard upstairs.

"Jackson, look out!"

The boy ducked his head

Something flew over it, then crashed to the floor.

Jackson lifted his head slowly, then stood. He went toward the object, picked it up, then looked at it as he walked back to the couch.

"What is it?"

"The picture of us that was hanging in the hallway upstairs." He handed it to Melissa.

The glass was broken.

After a minute, Jackson broke the silence. "Melissa, this kinda stuff never happened during the daytime. It's getting worse. Something's wrong."

(Thursday, October 5, 2005 ~ Day 53 ~ 1:21 A.M.)

Melissa lay in the bed next to Jackson.

Both were awake, hearing footsteps moving through the house.

(Thursday, October 5, 2005 ~ Day 53 ~ 4:48 A.M.)

Jackson sat at the corner of his side of the bed, leaning against the headboard, rubbing his eyes.

Melissa used her pillow to cover her ears.

But the footsteps continued.

(Monday, October 9, 2006 ~ Day 57 ~ 7:29 A.M.)

Jackson yawned, then rubbed his eyes.

Melissa lay next to him, also awake.

Both teens jumped when the alarm clock went off. They calmed themselves.

Jackson stood tiredly, then got ready for work.

(Monday, October 9, 2006 ~ Day 57 ~ 8:13 A.M.)

"How's school going?" Jackson said tiredly as he drank his sprite.

"I'm failing." Melissa yawned. "I'm just too tired to do any homework. I can't concentrate on what the teacher's saying."

"Yeah. My boss said that, if I don't pay more attention to what I'm doing, he'll fire me."

"I think we could both use more sleep."

Jackson snorted. "I think I could use a new life."