Chapter 9

- The Man at the Door

Stan had told Kimmy everything. Right now, as she lay awake in bed, she wished he hadnt. They say ignorince is bliss, well, she couldnt argue. God, would she give anything to not know that her childhood ex-boyfriend was back from the dead and had the potential to kill her.

Kimmy had to work tomarrow, and thats what scared her most. She was going to be working desk. All day. From morning, to night. That meant that she could risk meeting Kyle again for the first time in nine years. What would she do if he tried to hurt her?

Stop it, you're actung stupid, and Stan's overeacting. Kyle is dead, no matter what he said. She thought.

And even if he wasnt, he wouldnt hurt me. Right?

She swallowed hard and continued to stare at the ceiling. There was a sound from the hall, and she rose up. Kimmy listened for a moment, but there was no sound from the hall. She checked the clock. It blinked 5:46 over and over again. Who would be walking around outside at nearly six o'clock in the morning? Somebody at a hell of a party, probably.

Kimmy quickly pulled on a pair of sleeper pants and walked to the kitchen. It seemed abnormally cold in there, like someone had left a window open in the middle of winter. All the windows were closed though, and it was the middle of June. Kimmy got a drink and sat down at the table. She couldnt sleep, she was wide awake. She turned on the TV and watched some bad sitcoms and sex shows for a while.

Suddenly, the picture on the TV started to roll. It fizzed and buzzed, until it went out completly. Kimmy frowned, the walked over and looked behind the set. The wires and plugs seemed fine.

It must just be the reception. She thought.

She felt an immensly cold breeze just then, and slowly watched a shadow pass over the TV screen. Kimmy whipped around, but no one was there. She got up and walked to the kitchen, but no one was there. She checked Kenny's room, but he was asleep with a porno mag on his face. Kimmy quietly pulled her arms around her chest and started back towards her room. Thats when she passed the thermometer.

- 10 C

Dear Christ allmighty, - fucking 10? How the hell did it get that cold in here?!

She let out a huge breath and watched it crystallize in front of her. Then she ran out to the living room, and stared in horror. The glass of water she gotten earlier had frozen solid. She stared at her reflection in the ice, and saw the horrified look on her face. Then she heard the footsteps again.

Kimmy carefully turned her head to the door, and saw a shadow in the light beneath it. The shadow moved along the door for awhile, then slowly started to turn the doorknob.

"For the love of god, let Kenny of locked the door, please, let him lock the door." She whispered.

The doorknob turned around, but it didnt open. The shadow slowly walked away, and she closed her eyes in relief as the room started to dethaw. He was gone, thank god.

SLAM!

Kimmy snapped her eyes open as the door made a huge bolt, and the shadow appeard again.

SLAM!

It did this at least three times before it left. Kimmy breathed out another sigh of relief, then fell asleep on the living room floor.