Chapter 2 - The Nightmare
"How did my son die?!" Annie asked the diener in anguish.
"Authorities found a totaled car in the forest," the diener replied. "We looked inside and found his body. We didn't know who he was, until your confirmation."
At the cemetery, a funeral was held for Peter. Many attended, including Peter's friends, Aaron and Bridget were among them. While the casket was lowering to the ground, Annie sobbed so loudly in anguish. Charlie, however, was still emotionless.
"You have one saved message," a robotic female voice said on Peter's cellphone, which Charlie held. She was inside her bedroom during Peter's wake. "First saved message."
The message was from Annie.
"Hi, sweetheart," the message began, "it's Mom. Just calling to make sure that you and Charlie are okay and having a good time at the barbecue. All right, have lots of fun and be safe. Love you both!"
The message ended.
"To listen to this message again," the robotic voice on the phone said, "press four."
Steve entered her bedroom.
"Charlie, honey, are you okay?" he asked his daughter.
A few seconds of silence.
"I'm fine, Daddy," she suddenly replied. "I just can't believe this is happening. First, Grandma, now, Peter."
She put Peter's phone down and picked up her drawing pad, leaving the pigeon head drawing she did recently with a crown, and began to draw on a new page.
That night, it was snowing outside. Charlie slept in her treehouse. Leaving her latest drawing, of Peter laying facedown on the steering wheel of the car he died in, as is, she started stirring while in her sleep.
In her dream, Charlie was wandering around in a forest. Suddenly, a streak of light suddenly shone inside her.
Behind her was Peter, catching up to her.
"Charlie!" he called, getting her attention.
"Peter?" she asked, confused. "But, it can't be. You're dead."
"Charlie, listen to me," he began to warn his little sister. "We don't have much time. He's still inside you, and if nothing is done soon, he may consume you forever."
"Who are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about—"
But before Peter could finish…
Charlie woke up from her dream, gasping. It was the next morning.