Hey, y'all. I decided to put chapter eighteen out.

Hope ya like it.

Here we go.

(Reefside)

(Sunday)

Vanessa frowned as she headed out of the supermarket with Tommy the next evening. The blue-eyed, black-haired woman looked over her shoulder. Tommy, meanwhile, looked at her in worry and confusion. He placed his hand on his girlfriend's shoulder and she looked at him.

"Van, are you okay? You've been kinda jumpy ever since we got here," he said.

Vanessa sighed. "I know. It's just feels like... well, it feels like we're being watched. Followed. It's really weird."

Tommy stopped walking and looked around the half-full parking lot. "I don't see anybody."

"Well, they could be hiding behind a car or something," Vanessa said.

"I don't think anybody's following us. Hey, maybe you're just all stressed from all those crazy hours you've been working lately," the paleontologist told her, squeezing her hand. Vanessa was a paralegal.

She considered Tommy's words for a few moments, then, nodded slowly. "Yeah. Maybe you're right, baby. Maybe that's all it is."

"Sure. Everything's fine, baby. How 'bout after dinner I give you a well-deserved massage?" he said as they resumed heading for his car.

"Mmm. Sounds heavenly, cutie. You're way too good to me, Thomas," she said, grinning.

He grinned at her. "A woman as fantastic as you deserves first class treatment. But I'm more excited about the massage 'cause I get to do the touching," he said with a wink- causing her to laugh.

"Are Kira, Trent, Conner and Ethan still coming over for dinner tonight?" she asked.

"As far as I know," Tommy replied. When they finally reached Tommy's Jeep, a terror-filled scream nearly burst their ear drums. Tommy dropped the two plastic bags he'd been holding and quickly looked around in disbelief and concern.

Vanessa ran around the truck and up to him, her eyes wide. "God, Tommy! What in the world could be going on?"

"I'm gonna try and find out. It sounded like it came from that way. You stay here while I check it out. In fact, why don't you get in the Jeep? I'll be right back," Tommy said, then, turned to hurry off. She grabbed his arm and he looked at her questioningly.

"I'm going with you. Totally non-negotiable," she said firmly. She wanted to be near him.

"All right. Let's go," he said, taking her hand and hurrying in the direction they'd heard the blood-curdling scream. When they reached a red Range Rover, Tommy's eyes widened in shock and his heart stopped abruptly.

"Oh, my God!" Vanessa screamed, unable to help it. She and Tommy exchanged disbelieving, horrified looks.

A brown-haired woman lay on the ground... her neck twisted at an odd angle... a huge knife embedded in her chest. The couple watched as the blood flowed... . Nausea filled them. Who could've done something like this? And why?

A wave of dizziness crashed over Vanessa and she stumbled backward. Tommy quickly, instinctively grabbed her arm.

"Who-who-who-" Vanessa stammered.

"That'd be really good to know," Tommy said, shocked he was even able to speak. "Oh, man! This is unbelievable! Why would someone do something like this? What the hell's the matter with people?"

"And... where did the person go? This is really, really creepy, Tommy. I just can't believe we're actually standing here seeing... oh, God. This is so terrible," Vanessa said, shaking her head slowly.

"Crazy," he whispered as retrieved his cell phone from his pocket.

Dawn sat on her bed several hours later, brushing her hair and humming softly. Today had been quite fulfilling in her opinion. She felt wonderful. Of course, she still couldn't quite remember the man-stealer's name- or the man's, for that matter. And she could barely remember what they looked like. Also, she'd very recently decided to "take care" of any "suspicious" and skanky looking brown-haired woman she came across. That bitch in that grocery store parking lot in that place called Reefside, for example. She'd been asking for it. All there was to it.

Reefside. Huh. She had no idea what'd led her there exactly. Then, she'd taken notice of him. The guy with the spiky hair. Terry or something like that. He'd been with some girl at the store. Dawn'd chosen to follow them... hoping to hear a mention of the man she loved. She did know that the guy was very good friends with her soulmate.

'But he didn't mention him once. Jackass. I need to know his name. Why can't I remember his name? He's the man I love and I can barely remember what he looks like,' she thought with a frown. Then, she shrugged. It really didn't matter. They'd be together again soon and would never part again.

She did wish she could remember the name of the town her love lived in. She kept drawing a blank... . Suddenly, the deluded blonde heard quiet, mocking laughter and the hairs on the back of her neck instantly stood to attention. He was laughing at her again... . Boiling fury filled her and she dropped the brush onto the bed. She didn't like being laughed at. Especially by him... . Why hadn't she gotten rid of him when she'd had the chance all those years ago? She'd have been doing the world a favor.

"Go away," she hissed angrily. Her rage burned hotter when the laughter got even louder. "Go away!"

When the laughter only got louder, her mind began whirling. She growled, picked up the brush and heaved it towards the mirror above the dresser. "GO AWAY! GET OUTTA HERE!" She sprang to her feet and stalked up to the dresser. Stared at the now shattered mirror. She didn't hear the door swing open.

Annette McCoy- the woman who'd hired her to look after her children- hurried up to Dawn and placed a hand on the blonde's shoulder. "Dawn, is everything okay? I heard you scream," she said. "What, what happened to the mirror?"

Dawn looked over at the woman. "It was him."

Mrs. McCoy frowned in confusion. "Him? I'm afraid I'm lost, dear. Who are you talking about?"

"He really, really hurt me," Dawn whispered, pain filling her eyes.

"Sweetie, who-" Ms. McCoy began.

"And he makes me feel so weak and so out of control," Dawn said, shaking her head slowly. "Keep him away from me."

"Dawn... I can't help you if you don't tell me what you're talking about," the other woman said gently.

Dawn turned and headed over to the bed. She sat on the bed, pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs. Tears filled her eyes. "He's pure evil."

Ms. McCoy looked at the mirror, then, at Dawn with concerned eyes. She walked up to the blonde and sat next to her. "Listen, sweetie, why don't we go down and have some tea? We can talk and then, you can try and get some rest."

But Dawn barely heard her. She was only aware of everything suddenly getting dark... cold. Freezing cold. She didn't feel Ms. McCoy pulling her into a comforting hug.

The laughter returned and her green eyes blazed. "Kill," she mouthed.

Oh, well. Yeah, it was kinda short. But I guess everybody's used to that by now. Anyway, I just wanted to give people a little something for right now. Cya.