Chapter 1

It wasn't the best experience to have in the world. In fact, I wish it had never happened at all, had never heard of it ever. But things like this can't be reversed. It's fate, I guess. But this was not the fate that i would have chosen for myself if I had a choice. Re-living it like this isn't exactly the best thing in the world. But I have to let you know. You have to know the horror that really lives on this Earth.

It was a pretty bad day, the day it happened. It all started in school when Kay and I were talking during recess. Talking during recess is definitely not forbidden, and it never should be. But it was pretty bad when a prefect told us off for apparently "talking too loud."

Kay was furious. The playground was so noisy, with kids playing basketball and younger students running around screaming, it was almost impossible for someone to hear just us talking. The playground was practically a zoo! But it was only Kay and I who got told off. I knew why. That prefect was Lisa Young, one of the few loners in our school. Okay, probably the only loner in the entire school. Lisa just moved to Redstone High around last year. And now she's a prefect. She's a real brain, that one.

Anyway, after Kay had sworn and cursed under her breath and Lisa had stalked away, one of the younger girls, Amanda Jones, came up to us to ask if we wanted to play netball with them. 'We're just short of two players. Please Kay! Vicky? Come on,' pleaded Amanda. Kay and I glanced at each other. I'm not great with netball and Kay only loves football but we figured we'd give it a go. Just to be nice. Amanda smiled.

'Great!' she exclaimed, and ran back to the other Year 8's. It was okay, I guess, I was the goal-shooter, seeing as I was the tallest one there. That's me, long and gangly. Kay is a bit shorter and she's got this really nice figure. Me, I'm not even thin. I'm a I twig. Kay knows I hate having no figure so she says I'm just nice as I am. Long and gangly. That's what best friends do.

The bell rang and we all trooped back to class. Except for Kay and I.

Lisa was striding across the playground tos some of the older boys who were still playing football. I think she was telling them to leave because I saw one of the boys start laughing. Then the other boys swarmed around her. One of the boys, Brett Mason, started yelling at the top of voice. Lisa disappeared behind the circle of boys. I saw movement in the gang and I thought I heard someone screaming. I couldn't hear though all the jeering and yells. After a couple of seconds, the boys swaggered off, laughing and spitting. I looked for Lisa but I couldn't see her.

What I did see, however, was a small pale figure lying scrunched up on the ground. Kay and I looked at each other in horror and ran to the middle of the playground.

Lisa's flaming red hair was spread around her like a fiery red mane. Her eyes were closed and her mouth was slightly open. A trickle of blood was slowly dripping from it. Then I realised that there was a dark patch seeping out from under her. I felt sick. Kay was hurriedly feeling Lisa's pulse and opening her eyes.

'Vicky... I need you to get a teacher for me. Any teacher. Just be quick,' said Kay softly, her eys not quite meeting mine. I could see from her terrified gaze that there was something very wrong with Lisa. I got up and sprinted off to the main building.

*

A little later, Kay and I watche Lisa Young's limp body being placed on a stretcher and put into an ambulance. Or maybe she was already dead. I don't know anymore. My head was spinning so bad I felt like I'd just been on a merry-go-round for 20 rounds. I clung to Kay for support.

I had rushed into the building and almost immediatly crashed into Mr Gunther. Thank goodness he's one of the younger, fitter teachers around, or we wouldn't have gotten back to Lisa in time. I don't remember much after that. Maybe I told him what happened and we ran out together. Or maybe I told him what happened and he ran out without me. It's all one big blur now. All I remember is somebody - I can't remember who - putting their arm around me and telling me that everything was going to be alright.

But everything wasn't alright.

People wanted to admit it. But kids had been whispering about it in school for weeks after that. Whispering about Kay and I. And Lisa Young. But she wasn't there to hear all of it.

Lisa young was dead. She was never coming back.