Chapter One

I woke up, screaming. I panted hard. I tried to calm myself down by taking a few breaths, slowly: in, out, in, out. I expected to be dead or something, but I was still lying in my bed, in the small Manhattan apartment me and my dad lived in. Thank goodness, I thought, still thinking about my dream, or more like it, nightmare. I sat up, still scared to death, and looked at the clock. 2:44 AM it read in neon green. After what I had just dreamt, I didn't think I could fall back asleep. I sighed and hoped I hadn't woken my dad up. Luckily, I heard his soft snores from the living room.

I got up from bed and thought about all the nightmares I'd been having. Every time, I woke up screaming. A couple times, my dad would rush into my room and say, "What's wrong, Stella?" I hated to worry him (and make him lose sleep), but I always failed at that, talking to myself, the wind, and the nothingless before me. The ADHD and dyslexia didn't help, either. That's the reason why I got kicked out of school after school. I was grateful it was summer now, no teachers, no reading. I just hoped this summer would go normal.

I had no idea what was coming.

*********

Uck, I thought, the smell of books.

My dad was a historian, so naturally, he adored books. Since he cared for me nicely, I let that detail slip. But sometimes, I ended up in boring old bookstores and libraries. I was more of the athletic, outdoorsy person, and because of my ADHD, couldn't stand still for more than a few moments.

"Just 20 minutes, Stella! I want to buy the new book on Greek mythology!" my dad had pleaded. In the end, I solemnly agreed since he came to play tennis with me. Sadly, I creamed him but he took it like a champion.

So here I was, waiting for my dad to find me, my tangled hair and pale skin glistening with sweat making me look homeless or something. He wandered far into the shelves, and it was utterly hopeless to look for him now. I stood near the cashier's desk, pacing back and forth, looking up and down, tapping my toes, anything to keep me occupied.

"Little girl," the fat cashier lady said, cutting through the silence. Her beady eyes were locked on me, and her pointy, stained teeth scared me. It must've been ninety degrees outside or something, yet she was bundled up in layers of long sleeved clothing. I felt the impulse to move away, but my feet seemed to be glued to the ground. "Do you need help?"

Strangely, I felt a wind brush my hair and kiss my nose. I heard a whisper say, "She is a monster, escape." I looked around, wondering where the voice and wind came from. Nobody had walked through the doors since the last ten minutes, and no one was beside me but the fat cashier lady/ monster. I saw a dandelion seed drift by, carried by that small breeze. I always loved to chase them (another reason why my dad worried for me).

"No, ma'am," I said, then scurried after the seed. I thought I heard a hiss behind me, but I didn't look back. When I pushed open the door, still following the dancing seed, I caught a glimpse of a forked tongue coming out of the cashier lady's mouth. It horrified me, and I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me.

I ran down the street after the seed carried by the wind. It was definetly dangerous to keep my eyes up instead of forward, but I guess I wasn't thinking about that. The dancing fluff in the air fascinated me so much.

So much that I ran into someone.

Author's Talk

Try guessing who the monster is!!! And guess who Stella bumps into! (hint: think of the title of the series!)

I appreaciate all reviews! I bow down and worship everyone who reviews!