DO. NOT. OWN. SOUL. EATER.

XO~EMO~OX

As Maka entered the kitchen to begin unpacking her dishes, she noticed a sharp chill in the room. She looked up to see that the window had been opened and the white satin curtains now fluttered with the incoming breeze. I though I shut that last night... Maka thought as the moved her way through the piles of boxes. She stood with her stomach pressed to the counter and head hung out the window. She looked from left to right, then back again, left to right. The hell? Maka thought as she scanned the backyard intensely with her eyes. There's nothing out there... Maka slowly pulled her head back in and shut the window. She made sure to close the curtains so no one could look inside.

As she began unpacking the boxes of assorted dishes and other junk that belonged in the kitchen, Maka became aware of a small tickling in the back of her neck. Maka rubbed the back of her neck, trying to rid herself of the feeling. This is stupid, come on Maka, you're the only one here. Unfortunately it wasn't that hard to believe she wasn't. Every time Maka turned around or even bent down to put something in the lower drawers, she felt a tingle on her neck and butterflies in her stomach that told her she wasn't alone.

Maka shivered as she put the last of her things away. Then she heard quiet whispering again. She gasped and backed into the nearest wall. Knowing the only thing that could logically be behind her was that wall, Maka scanned the room multiple times with her eyes. Sure she was a great fighter and all but she was scared witless of ghosts, ever since her father began telling her storied of the headless horseman and bloody Mary.

Maka jumped insanely high when the phone rang. She bent over and put her hand on her quick-beating heart. She took a few deep breaths to calm herself then walked to the wall where the phone was placed. Maka pushed her back to the wall and answered the phone.

"Hello?" she asked, still a bit out of breath.

"Hi Maka!" her dad squealed on the other end of the line, "How's Papa's baby girl?" Maka rolled her eyes at her dad.

"I'm fine dad," she said "Just got finished unpacking everything."

"Really? How is the house? Is It safe? Did you sleep well?" Maka's father asked quickly.

"I'm fine dad, really. I slept fine, the house is amazing, and I feel perfectly safe here." She rushed the end of her answer so her father wouldn't pick up on her lie. Truth was, she was beginning to get scared. Maka shifted the phone to her other hand, then put her right hand between the arc of her back and the wall, just to be completely sure there was nothing behind her.

"Well, okay. I just wanted to check on you, let me know if you need anything. I love you."

"M hm, me too. Bye." Maka hung up before her father could say anything else. She moved slowly away from the wall and looked around some more. This is stupid, quit being paranoid... Maka thought to herself. She shook her head and with new found confidence, began to gather all the empty boxes.

After throwing out all the boxes Maka walked back to her door, but it wouldn't open. Maka jiggled the handle, turning it left and right. I know I didn't lock that door... Maka looked in through the window and saw her keys sitting on the dining table. She sighed heavily and slammed her shoulder against the door. It still wouldn't move. Maka walked back to the window and tried to open it. Locked... Maka looked into the house again and saw that her kitchen window was open. Maka cautiously walked around the building, ready to knockout who ever or whatever kept opening the window. She was surprised to see there was no one in the backyard. Not even a footprint in the dirt. She scanned the yard with her eyes slowly and to every detail. She sighed, closed her eyes, and walked over to her window. What she saw when she opened them, began her downward spiral...

XO~EMO~OX

Cliffhanger, hanging from a cliff... and that's why he's called cliffhanger!

~EMO-AUTHOR