Sorry it took so long for me to write this one. I have been at my cousin's and they don't have word, so I had to make do.

Chapter 4: The Man in the Shadows

As she was sleeping that night she dreamt of many things. She even dreamt that there was some one in her house and watching her sleep. She found it so awkward, so real. What she didn't know was that it was real as real as night and day. People in a gated community, like the one she was staying in, usually don't lock their doors because there is a locked gate that no one except some one who lives in it can get in. All of a sudden the telephone rings.

"Ring! Ring! Ring!

She figured it was her mom or dad because they were the only ones with the number.

"Hey what's up?"

All she heard on the other line was heavy labored breathing.

"Huuh, uhhhhuuuhh, huuuu."

She quickly hung up the phone. She was starting to get scared and didn't like being back in her hometown. She had now decided that she was going to be locking her doors at night. She quickly went and took care of that task and then took a shower.

After a long scalding shower she decides that she needs to get out of the house, if she stays in there she will never get her mind off of it. She decides to go to the skating rink. The skating rink, as she remembered it, was the hot spot for all the teens at high school.

She steps up to the window to pay to get in and sees an old friend of hers. She is now back in the mood to mess with people's heads and has forgotten all about the house.

"Uhm, yes, I would like to have an all day skate pass."

"Do you have your own skates?"

"No, I would like to rent a pair of speed skates."

"O.K. Then that'll be five dollars, please."

"O.K. Thank you."

"Wait, have I seen you somewhere?"

"Yes we went to school together."

"Yeah, but I'm still in school, so how come you aren't?"

"Ohh, I'm still in school, just not your school."

"Ohh, so what every one is saying is true, you have changed and are back in town for a while."

"Ahh, you are the first to realize, good job Kent. I am very proud of you. When do you get off or have a break?"

"In about thirty minutes or so."

"You going to come and find me on the rink when you are done?"

"Sure, it's been awhile since we caught up."

She skated in the rink for thirty minutes and then met up with Kent. They talked about all the old times and what they had been doing since she left. Kent was one of the few people that didn't make fun of her or mock her. He was always really nice to her. Kent was a good-looking guy, he worked out and was very cute, he used to be just like her, and then he changed too. They decided that they would talk again tomorrow, but it was getting late and she was getting tired.

She always had a crush on Kent, but she knew that they were only friends, but now that she had changed she was hoping that things could be different and that he would like her. She wanted to invite him to her cabin and maybe cook him some dinner or lunch and tell him how she felt for him.

She got home and did her usual work out then laid down in bed, but not before locking the doors and windows. She was so hot that she fell asleep in her sports bra and panty and was out with in seconds.

The man watched her all day. He knew exactly where she was going. He had never realized how beautiful she could be once she lost all that poundage, but now it was time for him to return from a long rest and the evil would soon arise as it had long ago before she left. He was dying, she was just so beautiful and he couldn't take such beauty not noticing him in return. She would be his. No matter what he would get her. He watched her work out in her sports bra and briefs. He drooled over the window seal. It was hard to see, he shouldn't have made that call in the morning then he could have visited her again tonight while she slept in almost nothing, but because of his stupidity he ruined it and had to peek in through the blinds to just get a glance, but that was enough for him. Once she fell asleep and the lights stayed on, he knew he had the opportune time to work out his plan. He quickly left to get things ready.

All night she tossed and turned. She couldn't get comfortable. She kept on dreaming about someone lurking out side in her yard and around the house. She was hot and very sweaty. Eventually she woke up and couldn't take it any longer. She wasn't going outside, it was still to dark for that. Instead she decided that she would take a nice long cold shower to cool her off, hopefully by then it would be lighter outside. She got in the shower and then got right out again. She heard something and she knew she heard it.

"Swwwooosh, shhh, shh, swoosh."

She was really starting to get freaked out. She didn't know how much more of this she could take. She kept on trying to tell herself that she was letting her imagination get the best of her, but she just couldn't believe herself. All she had to do was wait one more hour for daylight and then she could go out there and check everything out. She sat there in the corner of her room until the light started to poor in just listening to the bushes moving. She wasn't sure if it was an animal or what, but she was scared. Light came and she put some cloths on. She stepped out the door of the cabin and started to look around the house. As she turned toward the beach and she saw a shape emerge from the sidewalk that connected her land and her neighbors. She was petrified and tried to find something to defend herself with, but to no avail. She was cornered and she knew it. He was quickly closing in and she knew that he would get her even if she tried for the door. She could feel the panic take her. Why did she leave the safe house, she was fine then she had to see what the noise was? How stupid was she? She didn't know what this person wanted, but she had a feeling that it wasn't very good.

I better make this quick. I need this done before she comes outside. She can't see what I've done. I must catch her off guard. This will work; I hope I didn't wake her. I am pretty sure I was quite enough. I will have her; she won't be able to fight in the end. Ohh crap. What's that? Is she coming out already? I really need to hurry. Damn it. She's putting cloths on. Crap.

This is it in just a few seconds I'll be able to see who this person is and by then it'll probably be to late.

There I hope that this story is starting to sound better. Please review if you read.