That day in college, Bay couldn't walk five paces down the hallways without overhearing nervous discussions regarding the mysterious murder. Huddles of students seemed to gather in the corridors during break times and in-between lessons, spreading the gossip and debating wild theories which were becoming increasingly outrageous as the day went on. ''Why is it such big news to everyone? It's not like crime is exactly uncommon in big cities,'' snapped Ava, as she, Jackson and Bay passed a particularly loud guy trying to convince his stubborn friend that the illuminati had a hand in it.

''Yeah, but it's not the fact that someone has been killed, it's how she was killed that's interesting everyone so much,'' Jackson countered avidly. Those who had bothered to browse the news channels that morning had been quick to spread the gruesome details of how the corpse was discovered. ''The girl was completely ravaged!'' he explained, though the entire college already knew this by now.

''Probably by an animal or something.'' Retorted Ava.

''Then explain the child-sized bite marks which were found all over the body.'' Jackson countered confidently, ''Explain why another girl from the same street as her went missing around the same time.''

Bay had remained silent throughout the conversation, unwilling to debate the topic. She, upon receiving her mum's text, had flicked on the TV to see what BBC News had to say, and found her worst fears to be confirmed. An image of the victim and the missing child had been broadcasted, and Bay realised with aching dread that she recognised the two small girls on the screen, smiling sweetly in their school photographs.

Confused and horrified, Bay had been puzzling over how she had managed to dream of those children, which she had never seen before in her life, only to find out the next morning that they were real people who were now missing or dead. With increasing self-doubt over her sanity, she dared not repeat her ventures of last night to her friends, for fear of sounding completely mad. Her one comfort was the thought that her dream couldn't possibly be a reflection of the real event. After all, she had seen a cloaked stranger with apparent magical powers, and a girl come back to life with frightening demonic eyes. That surely couldn't be what actually happened? Bay was very aware of her propensity for eccentric dreams, as she was frequently subjected to night time visits from elves, goblins and ugly monstrous humanoid creatures. She decided that this dream was just like any of her other bizarre dreams. A coincidence, that was all.

''Look Bay it's your stalker!'' Jackson's sudden amused observation dragged Bay's thoughts sharply back to the present, and she became conscious that they were now standing outside in the frosty yard. Following the direction of her friend's gazes, she watched one of the college cleaners placing a few rubbish bags into the recycling bins in the adjacent car park. The young woman had apparently been watching them, but upon noticing their curious stares, quickly looked away and continued with her business. Jackson and Ava snickered, and the corners of Bay's mouth twitched upwards in embarrassed amusement. It was an ongoing joke between them that this cleaner was following her, because she always seemed to be lurking in the background of Bay's life. Bay recognised her as a dinner-lady from her elementary school, a previous neighbour, and even had a very faint recollection of her working as a cleaner in her old orphanage.

''Wouldn't mind if she followed me around,'' Ava bantered, ''she is FIT.'' Bay laughed.

''When you're done crushing on the staff, can we go inside?'' teased Jackson, ''I'm bloody freezing.''

That evening, Bay found herself sitting at her window, looking down at a blank page and wishing her English essay would write itself. She was not able to concentrate on her work, as impatience for her mum to get home was becoming overwhelming. Along with wanting to hear any new information that the police may have uncovered, Bay also felt anxious at the idea of her mum being out at the scene of the crime in the growing darkness. 'What if whatever killed that little girl is still lurking around in those woods' she thought, and the image of a dark hooded stranger and an undead child swam into her mind again. Attempting to distract herself, she picked up the ornate mirror still resting on the windowsill and began to wipe off her makeup. She then proceeded to undress, revealing a tall, slight frame decorated with a few intricate tattoos. Abstract colours and patterns ran down her arms, and a small watercolour turtle swam on her shoulder blade.

Pulling a baggy t shirt over her head, Bay crossed back to the window and stiffly resumed her position there. Thinking that she heard movement outside her house, she instinctively glanced down into the lamp lit street below, expecting her mums return. It wasn't her mum, but sure enough there was someone there, standing on the opposite pavement and staring up directly at her. Bay's blood went cold. There were no whites to the deadly black eyes which watched her unblinkingly. The material of her jumper carried a large black stain where the knife had penetrated her flesh. The small child was still recognisable to the televised smiling girl in the school photograph, yet her skin was now a greyish colour, and her face expressionless. Bay had only seen her for a second when she turned and ran down the back alley behind her, darkness swallowing her almost immediately. Seeing the girl from behind as she had retreated, Bay thought that the small figure looked just like any other child, and this scared her more than the sight of her dead eyes. She rather thought that the child had made as if to walk towards the house, and then decided against it.

The cause of her sudden departure became imminently apparent, however, as Bay noticed the presence of another being in the street below, who had just appeared from behind her next-door neighbours hedging. The new arrival sprinted after the retreating child, stealing a glance up at Bay's window before also vanishing down the black alleyway. Illuminated by the glare of the street lamp, she recognised with complete confusion the golden-brown eyes and dark auburn hair of the college cleaner. The whole scene was over within seconds, and half of Bay's mind was convinced that she was losing the plot. Yet the other half was on the verge of complete panic, certain that the child had looked very tangible. Overwhelmed, she found herself able to do nothing but sit there, frozen, piercing gaze burning a hole in the pavement where the child had apparently stood only seconds ago.

Author notes-

So I realised that I completely forgot a disclaimer last chapter so here goes: I don't own anything relating to The Lord Of The Rings trilogy as it all belongs to the wonderful Tolkein.

And also as a side note, I hope nobody was offended by Ava's comment about the cleaner being 'fit', I don't support objectifying people or anything!

Thanks for reading/following! Please feel free to review, and I will try to keep updating frequently as possible :)