“Bang!” I sit straight up in bed to see Starlight hiding on top of my bookcase shaking while half of my books lay on the floor. I look out the window to see the moon filtering through it. The clock next to me reads 12:55 pm. “Starlight why are you so scared?” Getting up out of bed, I go to the bookcase and reach for Starlight only to have her back away. “Come here Starlight, it's ……” My blood goes cold as I hear Katara growing behind me. Turning around, I see her looking at the door. I walk quietly over to my nightstand, open the drawer and get out my handgun that dad had gotten me after I came home from the hospital. I grab my phone from the nightstand, too. Grabbing Katara’s reflective vest, I put it on her.

Opening the door to my bedroom, I look out. The halls are quiet and empty. Suddenly, I feel an icy cold breeze from behind me. Turning around, I see my window open. I go over to close it when I hear the cocking of a gun. Glancing over my shoulder, I see Philip’s friend, Aaron. In his hand, a gun aimed at my heart. Grabbing Starlight, I bolt out of my room into the dark halls with Katara keeping pace. The sound of my blood pounds in my ears along with gunshots and Aaron screaming. “AMBER YOU LEFT THE TRUTH OUT NOW IT'S TIME TO PAY LIKE THE OTHER GIRLS DID BEFORE THEY LEFT THE TRUTH OUT!!!!” I bolt down the steps only to be greeted by more of Philip’s minions blocking the front door. Making a sharp left turn, I run through the kitchen and fling open the back door dropping my gun in the process. I run out into the icy cold night. The cold air goes through my black leggings and long sleeve shirt chilling me to the bone.

Looking at my phone, I hit emergency call and my dad’s work cell which he was bound to answer. Gunshots echo in the silent night: hitting trees and the ground while the crunching of snow follows behind me. “Amber, what is it? It’s one in the…” A bullet whizzes by close to my head. “Amber I’m unlocking and opening the basement door. Go in through it and hide. I’m calling back up.” Seeing my parents house in view, I pick up the pace. I round the corner sharply nearly wiping out but manage to get in the basement. I close the door behind me and lock the deadbolt. Running to the darkest corner, I hide with Katara and Starlight. Moments later, the basement door crashes against the wall.

“Amber come out, come out wherever you are.” I slide further back into the corner. I hear the crashing of Aaron knocking something over. “God damn it, bitch, come out now!” Seconds later, he’s towering over me. “Get up.” I slowly get up off the floor, shaking.

“Please, Aaron, it doesn’t have to be this way. You don’t have to end up like Philip.”

Laughing at me, he comes closer, “You don’t think I want to do this. I want to do this. I want to get revenge for Philip. But in order for me to do that, I need to get you out of the picture. Then your friends and family. No one will know.” Aiming the gun at me again, I close my eyes prepared to feel the bullet rip through my flesh and pierce my heart. But instead, I hear a shot ring out through the basement. Opening my eyes, I see Aaron on the floor with blood pooling from his head. Behind him stands Nick with a gun in hand. Dropping the gun, he runs up to me and wraps me in his arms. I melt into his safe arms and cry. Seconds later, my dad and the force burst through the basement doorway. One look at Nick must tell him everything because he doesn’t question.

Nick takes me upstairs to my mother who holds me tight and lets me cry. Katara and Starlight lay close by. My dad comes upstairs 30 minutes later. Looking at me, he nods his head. Turning to Nick, he hugs him. “Your quick thinking saved my daughter, son. Thank you.”

Nick, startled, stutters, “Y-y-o-o-uur welcome.”

Wiping the tears from my face, I look at my mother. “Do you think me and Nick could have some time alone?”

“Only if your father approves.”

Turning to my dad, I ask, “Dad?”

“Sure. Just don’t do anything you wouldn’t want us seeing.”

My mother and father leave the room leaving me and Nick alone. Nick sits down on the couch next to me and turns on the TV. I lean into his body. Katara and Starlight hop up onto the couch, next to me. Turning away from the TV, Nick places a gentle kiss on my head and whispers, “It’s finally over Amber. The nightmare is over.” Hearing those words calms my soul and rids it of the worries that haunted me for months.