Chapter 1 Prologue

I heard a thud, and ran up the stairs as fast as I could. "Mel? Mel!" I screamed. No response. I tried to open the door but couldn't get anything more than the jiggle of a door knob. I tried to kick the door down, but to no evail. A tingle started crawling up my spine as I flew down the stairs, skipping every other step. Suddenly I entered a daze. What could she be doing? Why wouldn't the door open? why didn't she answer? My head spun as I ran through my house to the garage, tripping over a glass table and cutting myself in the process. I could barely feel it, I was full of adrenaline.

I had to get in there, I had to figure out what was going on. I opened the garage door and opened the inventory cabinet. I grabbed an old, rusty axe given to me by my grandfather almost 11 years ago when he passed. I ran back out of the garage, and dangerously hustled my way through my house to the stairs. "Mel! Are you okay?" I yelled again. I received no response. I made my way up the stairs slowly this time, remembering I had an axe in hand, and I already cut myself once. I was shaking and numb, I struggled to catch my breath. What could possibly be wrong? I walked up to the door, and braced myself. I put the axe up over my shoulders and swung. I did this again and again until I got to the other side. I couldn't see anything and I couldn't reach through the door. Something was blocking it, which explains why I couldn't get it down the first time. What could she be blocking? I was crying now, and wiggled my arm through the very small space between the door and the barricade and reached the lock on the other side. I unlocked the door and began to push as hard as I could. All at once, whatever was blocking the door fell, and something made of glass shattered. The door swung open and I fell into the room. I looked up. I couldn't move. All the feeling in my body had left me. I was crying before, but I started to sob. I screamed, "Melanie!" As if that was going to change what was in front of me.