Previously: A had been in Hanna's room and completely trashed the place while Hanna slept as a way to show Hanna what A was capable of doing.

Chapter 9

Hanna POV

I woke up to a thump from my desk, something that sounded like a book hitting the ground. I opened my eyes and looked over at my desk in time to see a stack of books, piled haphazardly on the desk, sliding to the ground like an avalanche. Something jabbed my cheek and I picked it up-a tightly folded piece of paper with an H on the outside.

Looking around, I noticed what a mess my room was. Normally my room was a tad messy, but today it was messy in the extreme. Clothes were thrown everywhere. Then, I noticed the dark red stain on the duvet-blood? Next, I noticed the pen snapped in half on the ground. Somehow, a snapped red pen had ended up on the duvet and leaked.

I realized the extent of the mess didn't end there. It appeared that someone had ripped various pages out of books and thrown them everywhere.

Walking into the bathroom, I was met by an extension of the disaster zone that was my room. Makeup was scattered all over the place. All my eye and lip pencils were snapped and my mascara was useless-totally dried.

Weirder yet, there was a smiley face on the mirror. And underneath the smiley face, was a tiny capital letter A.

As for my closet… it was horrible. Someone had taken scissors and slashed up most of my clothes. Then, sprayed on almost everything, there was black paint. It ranged from small splotches of paint, to completely covering whole items. My handbags were similarly affected-all the handles were hacked off and now, they were useless.

I hurried back into my room and grabbed the paper that had been on my pillow. It took ages to unfold, but the inside message was simple.

Of course. It had to have been A.

Just then, my cell phone beeped.

Dear Hanna: Now you know what A is capable of doing. Consider this as a reminder: I'm not going anywhere. And I'm most definitely not some pathetic loser. Love, A.

How had A managed to do this? And when? I would've noticed if it had been done during the day.

During the night then?

I quickly ran through the house, checking locks on doors and testing the various windows. How had A managed to get in?

Maybe there would be another note today, telling me at least how A had managed to get it all done. I knew that I couldn't ask any questions: if I went to the cops, A would probably retaliate with something even worse.

I couldn't tell my mom: she was too concerned with work. Besides, she'd probably just remind me to check the doors and windows before I went to bed.

As for my old friends, they probably had their own A problems to deal with. Besides which, we didn't tell each other much about our A notes. Therefore, I would have to keep quiet and hope A sent another note sometime soon. I wanted answers and soon.

I tossed all my school stuff into my bag and went to the car. As I went to unlock the door, I noticed an overly sweet smell. I bent down and noticed shards of glass and a dark patch on the garage floor. Someone had evidently smashed my bottles of perfume right next to my car. There were four caps from various perfume bottles lined up by the front wheel: I recognized my favourites and sighed.

A really didn't do things halfway.

I got to school and went to my locker. It took several tries to open it, because I was hoping for another note.

I wasn't disappointed. Another typed note fluttered to the floor.

Hannakins-take what I did as a warning. If I can get into your house and wreck almost everything you have, at night when you're asleep, what else do you think I could do? Don't do anything to anger me. Otherwise, you might just find out what else I can do. -A

I flipped the note over and saw more typed words.

P.S. Don't tell anyone about what I did or about me. I hope you learned a valuable lesson from yesterday.

Great. Just as I thought. Well, I still had learned a lesson. Don't try to ignore A. Clearly A is much more powerful than I had ever given her credit for being. And that explained how A had managed to trash my room without my noticing.

The next thing I would have to do would be go shopping today-replace all the clothes and things that had been trashed last night.

I managed to get through the day, with the feeling that someone was watching me and laughing at me.

APOV

I made sure I got to school extra early. I had another little note I wanted to deliver, before going to the library and pretending to do homework.

Once I was safely hidden in the library, I snuck out my phone and texted my mentor, asking if we should send out another group message to them today. She replied quickly: they would be meeting at lunch today to discuss A. Hanna would be going shopping this afternoon to replace all the stuff I trashed.

Before lunch, my mentor and I agreed that we would go to the library and find a table to 'study'. Of course, the table would be located close enough that we could hear everything, but not so close that we looked like we were listening in.

We wouldn't be able to risk talking, but we would pass notes to each other-another way to keep up the studying façade.

As soon as lunch began, we met up at the library, and took seats at the best-hidden table there was. Luckily, it also afforded the best view of anyone coming in.

Spencer was first to arrive and waited for the others, taking flashcards out of her bag and studying while she waited. Emily and Aria arrived next, followed by Hanna. Hanna looked the most anxious and kept glancing around. Maybe she expected someone to leap out at her with another broken eye pencil.

I carefully folded a page of paper into a paper airplane while I waited for them to start talking, and then picked up a fresh piece of paper and generic black pen. My mentor and I began to listen more carefully. Hanna and Spencer definitely seemed the most stressed. Apparently, they sometimes felt like they were being watched.

Aria didn't seem concerned. She was getting complacent because she hadn't heard anything from A in a while. My mentor leaned over and scribbled on my pad of paper. You'll have to do something about that. I nodded. Yes, I had to remind Aria that I was there. I hadn't forgotten her.

Finally, it was time to make my move. Using careful printing, in very indistinctive handwriting, I spelled out my messages.

Aria! Don't worry; I haven't forgotten you. How are things at home? Something interesting might happen soon; although I'm sure you would rather it didn't… Love, A.

Em: open your eyes. I've noticed you're very oblivious. It's quite frustrating.

Spencer and Hanna: you're right, someone is watching you. Moi, of course. But then, I always am. Hanna, just a reminder: don't tell anyone about you-know-what.

Remember girls, A is always watching and A knows all.

Love ya!

-A

I pushed the paper over to my mentor. She scanned it quickly and nodded, looking up.

I pulled it back, folded it neatly and tucked it into the paper plane. Since we couldn't use phones in the library, I'd have to be creative. I knocked a pen onto the floor and my mentor reached to get it-I shook my head and slid under the table. She looked confused.

I scooted forward with the plane in my hand and leaned forward, making sure I was still concealed. I aimed the plane and sent it flying. It went perfectly, skimming a few inches above the ground before the sharp tip hit Hanna's bare ankle.

I hastily dodged backwards and climbed back into my seat before scribbling a note to my mentor. I just sent the paper plane. I couldn't send it at this level. Someone would see. She smiled and put a finger to her lips.

'This means A must be here' Spencer fretted.

'Unless A had someone pass it to us' Aria suggested.

Emily just looked scared. That girl is such a wimp; she needs to toughen up some.

Hanna's expression was priceless. Some fear, some shock, some anger. In addition, uncertainty.

They need to learn to talk more quietly. And I'm not sure how stupid they are for discussing A in public. Should I do something? I wrote on another piece of paper.

She looked up and frowned, indicating a negative answer. She then tapped her wrist, and I glanced at the time. Lunch was almost over. We would wait until almost everyone had left the library before going.

I collected all the notes we'd written that lunchtime and tucked them into a pocket in my bag. Later, I would burn them all. Destroying any evidence was the most valuable thing I could do to protect my mentor and myself.

We left the library and split up to go to our classes, my mentor reminding me quietly I needed to look in on Aria after school. I agreed, and headed to class to plan the afternoon.

After school, I went straight home, took the notes out the bag and put them into the fireplace, lighting them with a cigarette lighter. I watched as the flames obliterated every word and every inch of paper.

I'd always been fascinated by fire. That fire was capable of so much damage, and could get so out-of-control so quickly. When burning paper, I loved to watch the paper turn darker and darker, disintegrating into ash. It was why my mentor and I used paper sometimes-computer files could be traced, as could emails. Paper was almost untraceable. After all, no one could suspect you of buying a pad of paper to write on. And if you burnt paper, that was irreversible. You couldn't undelete it or trace it. Paper ash revealed nothing. It could be anything: a letter, a newspaper, class notes, a magazine. And of course, the way the flames glowed different colours-orange, red, sometimes blue-fire was gorgeous.

Once I'd watched the fire burn out and had checked that there was no remaining white paper in the fireplace, I headed out to pay a little visit to Aria.

I jogged to Aria's place and watched her through the windows, camouflaged perfectly by the forest. I could hear the phone ring and put in my hearing enhancer so I could listen to her, and snuck forward a few paces. She answered it, but didn't say any names. I listened harder; trying to make out the voice on the other end-it was male and someone probably about our age.

Sean Ackard? She seemed interested in him these days-I wonder how Hanna felt about that. He seemed to like her too.

Focus, I commanded myself.

She was sounding more upset and Sean offered to come over to her house, so they could talk. Excellent.

After I waited a few minutes, I saw his Audi pull into the driveway and he walked up to the house, ringing the doorbell. Aria opened the door almost immediately and they walked back into the living room-thank god for that, as I now had a clear view of both of them.

They were talking about her dad's affair and how she still hadn't told her mom. Interesting. She was telling a guy she barely knew about her dad's affair and yet she still hadn't told her mom-after three years. Not the best thing to do Aria. Still, I can use it.

What should I do? Tell her to tell her mom? Or just tell her mom myself? I could tell her dad to come clean… track down the girl and tell her to leave a married man alone.

It bugs me when people do this kind of thing. My mentor too. Here is a married man cheating with someone who isn't a whole lot older than his daughter-that's just wrong. I really ought to reveal it. Her family would be torn up, but Aria deserves it. Besides, it just shows a lack of morals to cheat.

Once Sean was gone, I would make a 'suggestion' to Aria-she work out how to make it all stop. Or I'd do it for her.

I quickly typed a reminder to myself-how fair was it that her new boyfriend (if that's what Sean was) knew about her dad's affair when her poor mom was still completely in the dark?

Finally, Sean had to go, and I made sure I was completely hidden by the forest. I watched his car pull out of the driveway and quickly started composing my text, keeping my eyes on Aria. I wanted it to reach her before she went upstairs, so I got to see her reaction.

Aria: don't you think you should tell your mom about your dad's affair? I really don't think you should be telling Sean about it before you tell your mom-or should I tell her for you? -A

Sent. The envelope icon swirled around the screen for a minute before showing the message in my sent items.

I heard a beeping from the house-Aria picked up her cell and opened the new text. Her face paled and she looked around before turning and walking in the other direction. I wasn't entirely sure where she would be going but took it as my chance to take off, jogging through the woods and then running home.

At home, I checked my messages and called my mentor to tell her I'd just left Aria's house and had learnt some interesting information.

She materialized in my room shortly after and asked what I'd learnt-I forwarded my note to her and she quickly read it, looking up when she was done.

'I found out that her mom is still oblivious and that she's telling her new boyfriend about the affair before she's thinking of telling her mom' I said, watching as my mentor's eyes widened.

'That's pretty low' my mentor commented, her eyes glazing over thoughtfully. 'We ought to teach Aria a lesson. Give her a time limit to tell her mom. I don't want her mom to be oblivious to it until Mike goes to college.'

Aria: since I'm being generous, I'm giving you two weeks to tell your mom about the affair. If you haven't done it by then, I will. -A

I put the phone in my mentor's outstretched hand and she glanced at the message, taking it in.

'That's good. Short, simple, to the point. Send it now' she encouraged.

I clicked send and watched the envelope spiral as the message went through.

'Start drafting your letter for if Aria fails to tell her mom. Make it short, less than a page and anonymous' my mentor advised me. She handed me pen and paper-I wasn't going to write this on the computer and risk it being traced-then said something about going up to the attic and left.

I scratched out a first draft, but it was much too long and full of mistakes.

My second try was better-within the required length, but gave away too much detail.

At last, I had the perfect note. It was short, two paragraphs, and very businesslike.

My mentor returned carrying a clunky typewriter that looked like it was from the Stone Age and set it on my desk. Apparently, this was what I was using to write out this letter. Actually, it was perfect-nothing on it could be traced, and it would mean I didn't have to write by hand.

I gave her the letter and she examined it, making a couple of small corrections.

Now, I had to monitor the Montgomery family and see if Aria said anything.

The two weeks passed quickly, in a blur of homework and extracurricular work-mainly scheming with my mentor and 'research'. At the end of the two weeks, I heard Aria telling Sean her mom was still completely oblivious.

Right. Time to show Aria what happened when she didn't listen to A.

I went to bed early one night, preparing myself to go for a quick run at 2 A.M. My mentor stayed over that night and woke me so I didn't need the alarm clock. While I got dressed in warm, dark clothes, she put the typed letter in an envelope and addressed it to Ella Montgomery.

I took the letter and left the house quietly, taking a shorter route to Aria's house. As I approached, I slowed my steps, looking for any lights in the house or any signs of consciousness. There was none.

I shoved the letter in the mailbox and left, texting my mentor as I came closer to the house. The back door was slightly ajar when I went to it, and I tiptoed in, hurrying up to my room and getting changed.

My mentor was waiting, browsing online for any reports of a stalker known as A in Rosewood. As with the last time we'd checked, there was none.

'Most of the time, Ella collects the mail. She'll be the one to get A's note and probably confront her husband and Aria tomorrow. Chances are good one of them will move out' I told my mentor, watching her as she clicked through another website.

She agreed and added with a laugh 'So tomorrow, the happy Montgomery family won't be so happy.'

Exactly.

'Remember to email Aria later today and tell her that this sort of thing is what comes of not doing as A says' she said.

'Noted and intended. Probably later, like around midnight, give the dust some time to settle' I said. After all, I don't want to rub the salt in the wound too soon-I wouldn't want to encourage Aria to go to the cops.

I flipped back the covers on my bed and got in. Just as I was about to go to sleep, I heard my mentor's voice once more before I fell asleep.

'You know, I'm really glad you're doing this for me.'

Here's another chapter. I delayed posting this-I meant to put it up yesterday or the day before, but decided not to out of respect for the 29 men who died in the mine disaster. New Zealand has been hit hard. So here it is today.

Anyway, if you have any feedback or comments I'd love to hear them J