The girls were sitting on the floor in a familiar setting and atmosphere, just before they ventured off into the TV world.

"D-did we finally make it back?" Nikki asked, still trying to make sense of her surroundings.

"I think so," Chloe responded.

The trio stood up and looked around as they regained their senses when they suddenly heard the intercom.

"This shop will close in 10 minutes. Please make sure you get all your shopping done and leave as soon as possible. Thank you."

"Whaaaat!" Chloe whined. "We didn't even look for anything!"

"We must have been here a really long time for that much time to pass," Zoey said. "But man, today's been crazy."

"Yeah," Chloe replied, still disappointed. "With going to a world inside the TV, the weird room—"

"Chloe, just stop right there," Nikki interrupted. "I don't want to be reminded of what we saw." She shuddered, recalling the noose, the chair, and the vandalized posters. "I'd prefer to forget everything that happened in there. I don't think I can take it anymore."

"Yeah, I want to go home too," Zoey chimed in. "I really need to rest right now."

"Tell me about it. My limbs feel so heavy, and not to mention it's still raining after all this time," Chloe complained.

The girls said their goodbyes and headed to their own houses, each planning on trying to forget what had happened that day.

--

When Nikki arrived at her doorstep, she was very exhausted. After everything that had happened, plus the events in the TV world, she honestly could not wait to sleep. But she would have to explain herself to her parents about where she had been. Nikki took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was to come, and then opened the door and entered. When she walked into the living room, she saw her dad and mom waiting for her.

"Where have you been this whole time?" Nikki's father, Steven, asked her. "Do you know how late it is?"

"Yeah, and I'm sorry. I've just been hanging out with my friends after school, shopping… for, uh, clothes to wear at the book festival meet-and-greet," Nikki explained, even though that had been the initial plan. Everything changed the moment they entered that strange world.

Nikki's parents looked relieved. "Well, as long as you're safe," Nikki's mother, Diana, said. "Just don't make us worry like that again."

"Yeah, I'm exhausted, though, so I'm going to bed," Nikki said as she stretched her arms.

"Oh, um, Nikki," Steven said, "do you know a classmate by the name of Julie Steadman?"

"Yeah, but we don't talk. Why?"

"Well, she's gone missing. Her parents went door to door asking if anyone had seen her, and they're really distraught right now."

"What?" Nikki gasped in shock.

"There was also a news report a few hours ago. They found the body of Victoria Steel and interviewed her, but after that, no one saw Julie again."

Nikki felt stunned. Since when had Westchester become so unsafe, with people not only dying but potentially getting kidnapped?

Steven continued, "If you see her or notice anything suspicious, just call the police, okay?"

"Y-yeah, alright. U-um, goodnight, then," Nikki stammered as she went upstairs.

"Night," Diana said, concern etched across her face.

Nikki went upstairs, changed into her pyjamas, and climbed into bed, her thoughts swirling. The TV world, a missing person case, the murder of Victoria Steel—all happening in just a few days.

Wait, Nikki thought. The bear did say someone was thrown into the TV. Does this mean that Victoria's death is related to whatever's in there? Is Julie in there right now? If so, what's happening to her?

Nikki looked out the window. It was still raining. I'll go see the TV at midnight and find out what it shows me. For now, I'll just kill some time by writing in my diary, she thought.

--

A few hours later

It was almost midnight, and the rain showed no signs of letting up. Her parents and Brianna were asleep. Nikki took this opportunity to go downstairs to check the TV, making her way quietly to prevent any noise. Even though she was dead exhausted, she still wanted to know if what was happening was connected. After all, lives were at stake.

When she finally arrived in the living room and looked at the TV, the screen started to flicker. She saw a clear view of a girl on the floor writhing in pain—a girl who looked like Julie—before she disappeared into thin air, and the screen went black.

Nikki watched in absolute horror at what she had just seen. Did she just witness a person die? Did this mean that the TV world was connected to the murders occurring in real life, and if so, who was responsible? How did they know about this, and how many more people were they going to target? Most importantly, did last night's events indicate who would die next in a few days, and was everything about a romantic partner having nothing to do with what was going on? So many questions, too few answers.

As Nikki crept back to her bedroom, she hid under the covers, shivering in fear before finally drifting off to sleep.