Fehw! Finally I updated! This chapter took longer to write than I would have thought.

"I will be the strigoi." I said cutting right to the chase.

She nodded and backed away, getting ready to attack or defend herself.

"Rosemarie, we need to talk." Anger seeped through me. Anger that was strangely familiar, but I could care less what it was at the moment. I quickly contained most of it, but I was still going to give her attitude. She called me by my full name, and that was disrespectful in my book.

"What about?" I said harshly.

"Our little indifference."

I gave a harsh laugh and she glared. "Little? You fucking abandoned me! You call that little?" I shook my head, but still stayed on high alert as I walked towards her, ready for any move she threw my way. "Anyway, I told you my thoughts and feelings on this. You, obviously, don't care about me one bit, so there is absolutely nothing to talk about."

"There is much to talk about Rose." She said deadpan.

That was it, I had enough of this. We kept going in circles and getting nowhere in our conversation, and I was getting tired of hearing it, not to mention even angrier. I was getting so angry that I had enough of her and I lunged at her out of anger. She was ready for it, though she seemed surprised. She went to sweep my feet out from under me, but as she was on the ground, with her crouched over, I took that was my advantage. As fast as a strigoi, I went at her shoulders, hauling her to the ground. I held her down, but her knees came up under my stomach and with all her leg power, lifted my body up and threw me off of her, making me land a foot away from her.

I quickly got up and she got up as well, but not as fast as I did, because I was already on her before she heard me coming. I let out a battle scream and charged at her. I could tell she was ready for me, but my strength and speed threw her off balance. I threw her down on the ground again, and quickly sat on top of her, my legs entwined with hers, and my hand rested on her forearms. My mouth came down to her neck, but I didn't touch it.

"Dead." I said deadpan. I got off and walked to my water bottle without glancing back at my mother. Eddie had brought me one before our training session had started. I took a drink of it, and then whipped the sweat that was working its way down my temples with my towel.

My mother walked up to me shortly after, her breathing heavily and her face full of shock.

"Good job, Rose."

I nodded, not looking at her. I still held my mother's opinions highly, but that doesn't mean that I respect her as much anymore. Not that I wasn't greatful that she was there when I found Adrian cheating on me, but suddenly those feelings over abandonment came back to me. I was hurt, and I wanted her love, but at the same time I wanted her away from me.

"But next time, don't fight like you have a stick up your ass."

Excuse me! I was done playing games with her now. I turned with my hand already in a fist and went to deck her. My fist was inches away from her eye, then…it was gone and behind my back. I was being restrained. I wanted to give her a black eye like she gave me when I was in the Academy. I wanted her to know how much that hurt and how humiliating it was. She deserves a black eye with everything that went with it.

"Rose. Cool it. Breathe. Just breathe." This came from Gabe in Russian. He was always the reasonable one, the one with a good, cool head on his shoulders. How I wish I could have his ability to keep my temper in line.

"Та гребаная сука! (That fucking bitch!- sounds like: tah ruban suka)" I growled in Russian. "Let go of me!" I quietly yelled, not wanting to draw attention to myself. I looked around and everyone was too busy with what they were doing to notice that a fight was occurring. My arm was in a painful position, that if I was a human, I would be on the floor withering in agony. My arm was up high on back, and my arm was twisted so that the inside of my hand could touch my elbow. AND IT HURT, but I wasn't crying, just severely pissed off.

"Rose, calm down. What is going on? Is she threatening you?" This came from Lev, who was standing in front of me. He was in a tense position, as if he was going to leap out at her. And somehow, I knew that every member of my gang was watching and waiting to see if we needed any assistance.

"Just keep her out of my site." My body was still tense, but I knew Gabe felt the fight drain out of me, as I realized that this was a waist of my time and energy. I don't want to fight my mother, I just want to get away from her before I actually hurt her.

"Who is this woman?" Gabe asked, looking at my mother up and down as if she was a threat that needed to be dealt with. My mother looked confused and upset, but got angry when Gabe looked at her that way.

"Janine Hathaway." I responded. My mother looked at me when I said her name.

They nodded, and Gabe's hold disappeared and I walked away. My mother took one step towards me and my whole gang stopped what they were doing and were by my side instantly.

All in unison, they all shouted in warning. "Не делать (don't- which sounds like: new jerwitch)" My mother took a step back, looking shocked. She looked at me, giving me a pleading look. I looked away.

By now, every guardian stopped what they were all doing and looked at us. "Guys, it's okay." I addressed my gang. "That woman and I have a lot of heat towards each other. I just need to ignore her. You do the same. She is no threat towards us. Continue on, but thank you for coming to my defense."

I looked at their faces, and they looked at me, calculating if I was being doubtful or not. Eventually, they all nodded and went back to their partner and started to spar.

I blew my whistle. "Alright, new trick." I said. "Bring it in, make another wide circle."

A few seconds later, I was showing them another technique. After I showed them, they sparred, but I didn't. I walked around, and helped them when they were making mistakes. I had to rearrange it for a few people, because they were either too short, or too tall.

I walked over to Lissa and Eddie. Eddie was showing her a quick way to ketch her footing, by using her weight. I smiled at him and gave him a nod. I watched as Lissa tried to kick Eddie in the thigh, but Eddie caught her foot just in time, and twisted it, causing her whole body to turn around, facing me.

"Uh! Rose, can you help me out here? I just want to see him on the ground!"

I laughed for a second, then went back to business. "Alright Liss." I walked over to Eddie.

"Alright Ed, I am going to do the same thing that Lissa was doing, but Lissa," I said addressing her, "I am going to show you a way to block his hand from stopping your foot."

She nodded, and as I did these moves I explained what she was doing right and wrong and what she can do to stop it. "Alright, first, you are leaning on your right foot, to keep you balanced. Try and even out your weight on each foot. Not only will this help keep your balance, but you will have more force in your kick, due to more weight.

"When you go to kick him, however, this is where the ninja jumps come in handy. You are going to use both your feet." I went to kick at Eddie, and his hand went to come at me. "Eddie is coming at my right foot, but with my left foot, I am going to kick it away, and with my right foot, I am going to kick his thigh, causing him to be either paralyzed for a twenty minutes, or injured with one nasty bruise."

She looked at me with wide eyes. "Rose, you're a beast."

I tried to hold in a laugh. "Lissa," I laughed, but I quickly went back to business, realizing just how important this can be to her. "You can do this. It will take practice, but you can do it. You can achieve it." I smiled at her, patting her shoulder gently in encouragement.

She smiled back at me. "Thanks Rose. I hope your right."

I snorted. "I know I'm right."

I walked away and went to a few other people. "George." I said. He had light brown hair and hazel eyes. Him and his partner Sarah, was doing the same thing Lissa and Eddie were doing. Sarah is a beautiful natural blond with sparkling blue eyes that is currently filled with determination. Both of them were dhampires, and were very tall. Any paler, I would have called them out for being a moroi that had a strong built to them.

Currently, George was going for both legs on Sarah, and Sarah maneuvered correctly to the side, so that he was just kicking her buttocks.

"George," I said again, and this time he stopped. "Try a different approach. Try blocking her from turning."

"How can I do that?"

"Either by distracting her from trying to do something else, by aiming high, or sweep her feet from under her."

"If I sweep the feet, then I won't be hitting her thigh."

I nodded. "True, but she will be back up before you know it, and she will expect you to do the same thing twice."

He nodded, and when he tried it. I was right, she was back up before he knew it, and he finally landed a kick on her thigh. I nodded and smiled approvingly. "Excellent." I said. "Sarah, your turn."

As Sarah was being the offensive one, I walked over to my father, and boyfriend, Dimitri.

Dimitri wasn't trying to hit my father one bit. In fact, Dimitri was in a defensive position. I noticed that Dimitri gave my father some tips, because I was sure that no moroi would be that good at rebounding from getting pushed that far back (I don't remember Dimitri being this strong before. Is it possible that he retained some senses of strigoi? His hearing? Strength? Temper?). Dimitri did nothing except push my father back when he would be close to landing a blow. I saw my father's face and he had on a calculating look- one I was suddenly afraid of. It was like he was one mean kicking machine- or well, will be.

Abe went at Dimitri. Dimitri's hands was going lower towards my father's stomach, thinking that he was going to go for his groin again. However, that was not Abe's attention at all. Instead, Abe' went for the face and I watched as my father landed a blow on Dimitri's jaw. I shrieked back. Ouch. That looked like it hurt. I thought.

"Ouch. Did that hurt?" I asked Dimitri as he broke his stance from defensive. Both men looked at me and my father had on a smile. Dimitri looked over to me where I was standing. I think he didn't even realize I was there watching.

He smiled, rubbing his jaw. "Not so much."

My father snorted. "It will later, believe me." To me, it sounded much more than a threat than a fact. I think my father was taking this much too seriously; not that he shouldn't be taking this seriously, but he shouldn't be blaming Dimitri; more as, thanking him for his help.

"Dad." I said in a warning tone.

"It's alright Rose." Dimitri said, coming to me and kissed my forehead.

"I'm impressed Dad." I said to him, taking a step back from Dimitri and faced Abe.

He smiled. "I still got it."

A woman laughed behind me, and I could feel the scowl on my face. "You were always someone to watch out for."

The redheaded beauty came into my view and I had a hard time keeping that death glare off my face. That anger that I pushed aside for the time being came rushing back. My hand turned into fists, and I wanted to take a swing at her. I quickly crossed my arms. I didn't want to tell everyone that I was this violent. What would they think of me?

"What time is it?" I asked Dimitri.

He looked around the gym. "It is 3:04"

I sighed. "Wow. Times gone by so fast." I blew my whistle. "Alright. Anyone that would like to take a ten minute break is more than welcome to. Fill up those water bottles and ketch your breath. If you have any techniques that you would like to share with everyone, don't be afraid and show us. We will gather back into a circle so that if anyone has any techniques, they shall show us there."

I walked over to my water bottle, and just as I went down to snatch it, someone else took it from me. I looked up and my mother was looking down on me. I straightened up from my position, and I was the one looking down on her.

"What is it now?" I said, breathing out a sigh.

"We need to talk, Rose. I'm serious." She handed me my water bottle and I took it. I looked at the clock. "You have nine minutes. Start talking." I was being very, very rude. But I could care less.

"Rose." She said, and there was something in her eyes and voice that made me want to comfort her. "What could I have done?"

"Visiting me at least once a year would have been enough, Mother. I said that was all I wanted- just to see you. Clearly that was way too much to ask. If I wasn't worth your time, you should of just of said so. I wouldn't of understood, but at least I would have known I was a mistake instead of just wondering."

Anger rose in her brown eyes. "Excuse me!" Before I could have stopped her, her hand flew behind my head and backed handed me. "You are no such thing. You are my daughter, and I am proud to call you my daughter! I cannot express to you how much I regret not being there for you when you were a kid. I wish more than anything that I could go back and change that. But Rose, you have to understand that I was naive as well. I was only a kid when I had you. I wanted to keep you, but I knew that I wouldn't get to see you that much and you would have stayed at home nanny. That nanny would have been more of mother to you than me. What would you of done in my shoes?"

"I already told you, last year. But I can see that would be a little hard to recall, seeing on how you keep blocking me from your life."

"That is enough, Rosemarie." My father yelled dangerously.

I gulped. I hated making Abe angry. For some reason, it is worse than fighting a severely pissed off strigoi.

"Your mother is trying to make amends, and you are not making it easy on her."

"It's up to me to take it or not. And I'm not taking it."

"Now you are being the one unreasonable. She doesn't have to come back, yet she wants to. She wants to be in your life, and you are just pushing her away. Listen to yourself, you said you wanted her in your life, and now you are being a hypocrip in pushing her away, because you are doing the same thing she did to you. Stop this now, my daughter." Abe looked so fierce, that I knew everyone who was around him took a step back from him.

I stayed where I was and kept quiet. That was the first time my father has ever defended someone. I wondered if my father loved my mother at one point, or if he still loves her. However, at this point in time, I could care less. I took on last look at them and turned my back. I heard my mother take a step towards her, but came to a halt.

"Janine, let her go." My father murmured quietly to her, stopping her. "Let her come to you. She is still hurt. She will come to you in her own time."

I kept walking, knowing that their gazes were on my back. I knew Dimitri wasn't coming after me. I had to be alone. I was angry and if anyone tried to make me feel better, they were not going to like me. My gang looked at me, watching me retreat from the gym and away from everyone else. I didn't look at them, though I knew my anger was displayed on my face. Instead of walking out, I turned to where the punching bags were, and worked on that. I kept punching it with all the anger I had, because suddenly all the anger in the world took me over and before I knew it, my hand was raw and my knuckles were skinned.

A hand was on my shoulder and I was startled. I turned around to see who it was.

"Roza…"Dimitri's eyes were full of concern. "Are you okay?" No one was around us; they were sitting down and resting, talking among themselves on the other side of the gym. Some were showing off some of their techniques.

An animalistic sound came from my voice, and before could comprehend anything, I was on my back, and Dimitri's full weight was on me. He was holding me down. "Roza, snap out of this! This isn't you. This is spirit. I'm here for you."

How dare he hold me down! This is me. What was he talking about? And I don't need anyone. I struggled against his hold, by his hands were holding my forearms down, making it impossible to move my arms. His legs were laced between mine, making it impossible for me to kick him, let alone move. I moved my shoulders and torso in a useless tactic to break free.

"Rose, fight this. Come back to me."

"What is going on?" My mother said in an angry voice.

I growled and tried harder to break free. I put all my strength into pointing my elbow up in trying to get free. It only made Dimtri straigten out my arm to get a better hold on me.

"Roza, fight this!" He said in a familiar desperate tone. "You are stronger than this."

The rational part of my brain said that he is right, that this is not me.

"I love you, come back."

And those three words, 'I love you,' made me fight.

"Dimitri." I whispered painfully, and I clenched my eyes shut. "I can't." I felt hot tears leak out. "It's so strong."

He leaned down and brushed his lips against mine, the his lips went o my hear. "когда огонь встречает огонь. Вы можете бить это. Вы более сильны" (When fire meets fire. You can beat this. You are stronger) He quoted the first sentence from my sword, knowing that this fire inside of me was real and strong, but I was also real, but stronger.

"what is going on with her?" My mother asked, and out of the corner of my eye, my gang was there. Most likely watching what my mother was going to do.

"Spirit." Dimitri said husky, from me thrashing against his body. I yelled out in outrage.

"позвольте мне идти!" (let me go!) I growled and cried at the same time.

"Spirit is taking over. It is always waiting to take her over. She fights it all the time." He said again, pain in his voice. "There is nothing anyone can do. It's like a disease, it gets worse as time passes, and there is nothing we can do."

I thrashed against him again. I lifted my head up and banged my head against his. He was stunned for a moment, but that was all I needed. With all my strength, I lifted up elbow and elbowed him in the face, followed by my knee in his stomach. I pushed him off of me, but only to be replaced by Denis.

"Rose. Come on! Fight this!" He said in a calm tone.

I yelled out in rage. Why won't they let me go? This is me!

"Rose, we love you. Come on woman! You are the strongest of all of us! If anyone can do it, it's you."

I thrashed against him, and he was losing his balance on me. I thrashed harder, adding all my weight in it. This time, though, Gabe was there, and he saw this. He knew I was analyzing everything. He was there.

"My sister, fight this."He said.

"What did Gabe say to my daughter?" My mother said.

"He said 'my sister, fight this.'" Dimitri translated for her.

Dimitri kneed beside my head, and ran his fingers through my hair. "Roza, Я люблю Вас. Возвратитесь ко мне, пожалуйста." (I love you. Come back to me, please.)

The anger started to subside, and hearing those words made my heart ache. I started to cry, but not in rage. But in disappointment in myself; spirit darkness is steadily getting stronger and I am only getting weaker.

"Dimitri." I cried out his name. "I'm losing it." I said in English. "I can't fight it anymore. I don't know if I will come back next time. It's so strong."

Gabe and Denis loosened their holds on me, and hugged me close.

"Denis." I said, trying to calm myself. "Gaberil. My brothers." I said in Russian. "I should of told you…"

"Shhh. Rose. It is okay." Gabe said, and from the look on both Denis and Gabe's faces, they were truly worried about me. "We will fight this. Together. We are all here for you."

A sob escaped and Gabe's arms wrapped around me. I sat up, not breaking the hug.

"Rose, who is that woman that you were fighting with earlier?" Gabe asked broke the embrace. We looked at my mother, who had a worried look on her face. I only seen that once, and it was on her face for me. I never saw my mother worry over me, and I didn't like the feeling that came with it. It was like someone slapping me in the face.

"She is my mother." I said. He looked at me stunned.

"Then you need to talk to her and work things out, my sister." I realized that this was the second time that the he acknowledge me as his sister, for which my heart sang out.

He rocked back on his heels and stood up and held a hand out for me. I took it and looked at everyone around me. It was my parents, Dimitri, and my gang was around me. The others didn't notice me, probably thinking that it I was just sparring with Dimitri.

"I don't understand... What is this spirit darkness that you speak of?" My mother asked.

I looked at her, not in anger, but in sorrow. "I'm shadow kissed."

"I know that, but what does that mean?"

"It means, that our daughter died." Abe said.

My mother looked at him, and he spoke again. "The car accident that killed princess Vasilisa's family also killed our daughter Janine. Vasilisa brought Rose back from death."

My mother took a step back, not realizing it. Does she think I'm a freak now?

"Mom?" I asked in English, but my voice still held sorrow.

"You're telling me that my daughter died four years ago?"

"Technically." I agreed in English.

"Why didn't I know about this?"

"Maybe because you were never around." I said. I didn't say it bitterly; I said it like a fact.

She looked me up and down, as if she just realized something big and it was scary.

"I need to get back to my training session." I said and turned away and walked back to the others. I looked at the time and saw it was 3:24. Damn it was a twenty minute break, not a ten.

"Rose, some of us need to leave for a guardian meeting." A woman said, coming up. It was Tina.

I turned to her. "A meeting?"

"Yes. The Guardian council set up a meeting. The queen said to set one up, but didn't give a time or date." Her tone was apologetic.

I nodded. "Very well then. I will be here tomorrow." With a sigh, I blew my whistle and everyone got up and came to me.

"I was unaware of the Guardian council had called a meeting for all guardians to attend, meaning this training session has ended." I looked around and saw some gloomy faces. "I will be here tomorrow as well, if you are interested. There is also a training session at five, but I doubt any will attend due to the meeting. They usually last over an hour."

They all nodded. "I don't know about you guys," George said, "but I am coming tomorrow."

A lot of people agreed with nods, or said 'yea' or 'agreed.' Then they all turned, got their stuff, and left the gym. I sat down, and somehow, I felt exhausted. I sat down and brought my head to my knees.

I felt someone sit beside me, then smelled his aftershave. "Uh. What a day."

Dimitri put his arm around me shoulder. "Come on. Let's go home."

I looked at him. "Where is home?"

He looked at me confused. "What do you mean?"

"Comrade, this is my home. With my gang, with Lissa, Christian, Eddie and especially you. But you have to understand something." I rose to my feet, and so did Dimitri.

"I don't belong here."

"That is nonsense, Rose." Dimitri said shocked. "We belong together. We need to protect Lissa and Christian together."

God I wanted to! I wanted to do that so much that I brought tears to my eyes. Life was so unfair, but I knew in my heart that I wasn't meant to just protect Lissa: I was meant to protect everyone. Down to humans, dhampires and moroi.

"I have never loved anyone as much as I love you and Lissa. But Dimitri, you have to understand some things."

The second those words came out of my mouth, that stupid guardian mask slipped into place. "What are you saying, Rose." He said husky.

I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly feeling swollen and tight. "I'm not here to stay. We are moving soon."

"And by 'we' I suppose you mean that family of yours."

Excuse me! I took a deep breath to remain calm. He doesn't understand. How could he? "Try and understand Dimitri. You were the one always taking precautions and looking out for others. This is what we do! My family and I do what we must, and what others are afraid of."

"Hunting strigoi?" He said in disgust.

I gave him my famous 'Rose Hathaway death glare.' "It's more than that, Comrade."

"Explain to me on how it's more than that, Guardian Hathaway." It stung that he addressed me with my title.

"We both understand that death not something to celebrate, but to morn and try to prevent. That is what we do. We save and protect as many people as we can, of all races."

He laughed humorlessly. "You expect me to believe that? Come on now, Rose."

"I expect you to understand that we do not stay in one place for long, Dimitri. I expect you to understand that we help as many people as we can, wether if it is in Russia or America. I expect you to understand that life is something to treasure, so we come to those whose lives are in danger if we are around. If you don't understand that, then you have a lot to learn about life yet."

I was turning around when Dimitri spoke. "Then what about us? And your real family? The ones that were there for you in the very beginning when spirit started ruining your life?"

I sighed. "It's not like I am going to stay away forever. I will come back."

He snorted. "For what? Just to visit?"

"If I let Lissa and Christian come, they can get killed. Do you want that?"

"Then stay here, Roza." He sounded like he was begging, but I could tell he was still angry.

I shook my head. "I'm sorry. I cannot. They need me."

"They do not! Let Denis take over and stay with me!"

"Why! Why do you want me to stay so bad?" I yelled.

"Because I love you, because I don't want anything to happen to you. Because I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want you Rose, and I don't want you to leave me again."

I stared at him lost for words. "Are you kidding me! I never left you! I always loved you, Dimitri. I told you that when I left for Russia. You knew where I was!"

"Yet you thought you would never come back! Did you even want to come back?"

"What kind of question is that? There were days when all I ever wanted was to come back home to you and Lissa. If you think I didn't miss you guys at all, then you are very sadly mistaken. I wanted to come back home, but I just couldn't."

"Why not?"

"Because it wasn't time for me to come home yet."

He gave one harsh chuckle. "You are a poignant woman."

I flinched and he turned away from me. "You know damn well that was not my attention at all to hurt you or Lissa. And where the hell is all this shit coming from."

He didn't answer me and I walked up to him and turned him around to face me. I was taken back to see that there was a tear in his eye. He shrugged off my hands and glared at me.

"Dimitri… I don't understand where this all is coming from. You knew I was leaving soon, why are you acting like this?"

"Because I don't want you to leave. I want you to stay!" He yelled and stepped closer to me, cupped my face. "Do you even know how much I love you, how much I care? I want to protect you, but you won't let me."

I leaned into his touch and brought my hand up to where he was holding my face, and put my hand on his. "This is what I was meant to do, Dimitri." I said softly. "I want to stay home. God, I want it so much that it hurts! But I also know what I am suppose to do in life, and this just so happens to be it. I can't change that! No matter how much I want to, I can't. I want to stay here, and love you and everyone else, but I can't. Things need to be done, and people need to be protected. You know this."

"Then let us come with you."

I shook my head.

His hand dropped, and his eyes were like ice. "Why?"

"It is too dangerous."

"For the love of God, Rose!" I so loud, that it practically bounced off the walls. "Are you kidding me! We can protect them!"

"What if there is an ambush? Huh? What then? If I lose you guys, I go crazy!" I cried, and the thought of losing them brought tears to my eyes. "That idea had crossed my mind more than once, more than a dozen and every time, I have to remind myself of why I have to say no. This is a very dangerous road, Dimitri. One that only the strong and fit can make it through. I have no doubt that you would make it though, Dimitri. You are strong, and incredibly talented in fighting. But anyone, can fall. Arthur Schoenberg prove that, and if I lost you… If I lost you…"

I swallowed hard, took a deep breath and let it out raggedly, then shook my head. I turned and walked away. My gang was on the other side of the gym, talking amonst themselves.

"Rose," Larisa said to me when I reached them. I put on my guardian mask when I came into sight. "We believe that you should attend the meeting. You know many guardians here, and know how they operate."

I nodded. "I agree, I should go. Where will you guys be?"

I looked at Zena, and she smiled sheepishly. "I want to taste American food." She said and l laughed.

"Of course you do!" I laughed. "Denis, take them all." I handed him the credit card. "Take them to a buffet called 'CJ's.'"

He nodded and smiled.

"I can only imagine how hungry you all are. And thank you for staying here. You didn't have to, but for what it is worth, all of you set a fabulous example to every guardian here."

They smiled and high fived each other. I turned and walked out of the gym, but I felt that presents again… that familiar eerie set of eyes. I turned and looked around in the hallway.

"Who is there? Show yourself!" I demanded.

I heard footsteps farther down the hall, running away from me. I ran towards it with my stake in hand. "Halt! Stop!" I yelled. I came closer and closer to the footsteps, but saw no body, no figure. "STOP!" I screamed. And suddenly, the footsteps disappeared. "Show yourself." I yelled.

My mind was racing. Why couldn't I seen him, but only hear him? Is he alive or dead? A ghost? Impossible. I couldn't hear Mason when he was dead, let alone have him talk to me.

"Rose!" My mother shouted, a hundred yards away. I couldn't be more relieved to see her right two seconds, she was by my side. "I heard your yell. Are you okay?" She looked me over. "What is it?"

I shook my head. "I have no idea… I don't know. I just have this strange feeling."

"What kind of feeling?"

I shivered. "It's like someone evil was watching me. An eerie feeling."

My mom looked around, even turned around to see if anyone was coming behind her. "You still have that feeling of someone looking at you?"

I concentrated, seeing if I had that feeling inside, feeling my surroundings and body, but I felt no gaze on me. It was like once my mom called my mine, that person just disappeared into thin air. I shook my head. "No. It's gone."

"Come on, Rose. We are going to be late for our meeting if we don't leave now." She said, and came over to me. She put her left hand on the back of my right shoulder and turned me around and walked forward.

As we walked, the feeling of dread came over me.

"Mom, I have a bad feeling." I stayed quiet for a moment, then spoke again. "And I can't get it out of my mind."

"It will be okay, Rose." She said, and I had a feeling she was trying to reassure herself more than me.

"I hope so." Suddenly that feeling that someone was looking at me came back, and was coming from behind me. I looked over my shoulder, but saw nothing. "I hope so" I said, and for the first time in over a year, I was afraid for my sanity.

I think I might have finally gone off the edge with spirit.

And there is no coming back.

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