The small shell around her neck glowed a pale shade of turquoise as a familiar tune played from it. She looked down, stunned and a little scared, but her horror was short lived - for the shadowed figure standing inches away from her started fading away in a grey cloud of smoke.

“NOOO!!!” The figure cried its voice echoing all around her. “AVA WINTERS!!! I’ll get you for this! I’ll get yooooou-!!!”

Finally, the room was quiet, and she was alone, all that remained was the fading glow of her shell necklace and a horrifying ghost-like mask.

~

Ava Winters woke up with a start, panting and shivering from head to toe. Her pyjamas were soaked through and stuck uncomfortably to her body, her white bed clothes were strewn everywhere, and her flaming red hair covered her emerald-coloured eyes limiting her vision.

Ava hastily pulled her hair away from her face and glanced around the room, everything was as she and her roommate had left it the night before.

Madelynn Ray was still fast asleep in the bed next to Ava’s. Though occasionally muttering broken sentences.

“Mum...5:30 in…morning...don’t need…to school…AVA! Slippers!?”