1 Prologue

Flashback from 8 years ago*

"Melissa, look what I found!" A calm voice yelled from afar. Melissa was currently in her bedroom, it was a hot summer night and the annoying mosquitoes would not leave her alone. Melissa stood up from her one person bed and walked out her room. Her room was always plain except for the very pictures she had. On her desk was this small picture frame decorated with seashells she had found that summer. It was a summer back when she was still in Australia. They already lived there for 3 years but Melissa had a tough time fitting in with the kids at her school and did not make friends. Instead she would read books to get her out of her real life, she had lost all her old friends when she moved. To cheer her up Melissa's parents send her to summer camp. At first Melissa was very reluctant and did not want to part with her parents. She was dressed in an overall dress with a bright yellow shirt underneath, her eyes watery and nose snotty as she was balling her eyes out to convince her parents to take her back home. Melissa would have not even left her house if it were not for Noah. Noah was Melissa's only friend. He was the only reason why she left to go to camp was because of a promise they made. They would never leave each other's side. Melissa started feeling confident all the way until the end. Her parents would not listen to her tears and screams. It was not until Noah took her hand that Melissa quieted it down.

"It will be okay! I will be with you, promise," Noah said smiling. Melissa stared back at Noah with big wide eyes.

"You promise," Melisa said. She held out her hand and pointed her pinky towards Noah.

"Promise," Noah said confidently, and he wrapped his pinky around hers. Maybe it was his reassuring smile or the way he looked at her that made Melissa feel confident that he would be by her side at all times. Hand in hand they walked towards the Camp counselor. There they met Dani and the promise that was made moments ago was broken.

As the week passed, Melissa got closer to Dani. They slept in the same cabin and always shared the same activities. Melissa started seeing Noah less and less but it did not matter because she never felt lonely. Melissa always had Dani there right by her side especially when Noah was not there. It was camp night and all first years, had to hide in the forest while second years would try to find them. It was a camp tradition and the more first years you find the more candies you got while on the other hand if you were hiding you got more candies if you were found last. Melissa ran into the forest and hid in the secret spot she had found during the hiking activity. It was under the roots of this big tree. Melissa was just small enough to fit under it and let the darkness cover her. Melissa was there and waited there for what had felt like an eternity. Both Dani and Noah were here for their second time and second years so they had to search for her. Melissa was certain Dani would find her; they both were there when they saw the spot. As the moon rose higher and the night became darker Melissa felt frightened. There were sounds all around her. Melissa curled herself up in a ball and tried calming herself down.

"It will be fine Noah will find me," Melissa chanted over and over again

Melissa stopped her whispering when she heard a crack. Twig started cracking around at an abnormally fast pace. It could not be human. Melissa started shaking in fear, tears streamed down her eyes as she heard sniffing around her. The wild animal came closer and closer to her. Melissa's breath hitched. From far away she heard screams and yells but she could not recognize any of the words said while she shoved herself further away from the animal and closer to the tree.

"MELISSA!" the desperate voice of Noah screamed out. Melissa finally shocked out of her trance. The wild animal seemed to be scared away as it ran away as hard as it could.

"NOAH! SAVE ME PLEASE! NOAH" Melissa screamed over and over again. She was bawling in tears and frightenedly hunched against the tree. She heard footsteps coming her way. "Melissa are you here? Where are you!" Noah yelled again. Melissa crawled out of the hole under the roots and looked at the dark figure of her best friend. "NOAH!" Melissa yelled as she jumped into his arms for a hug. Noah stumbled back but caught her and smoothed her back over with his hand. "It's okay, I am here now. Don't cry," Noah confronted while he kept smoothing his hand over her back. Melissa was still bawling her eyes out and shaking but all she could remember thinking was I'm sorry for not being there for you and breaking our promise. I'm sorry Noah.

The day after Melissa was sent home . The day the two week camp was supposed to end Melissa moved with her family back to Brazil. While Noah knocked on her door screaming, yelling and crying for her to come back. For his only friend to not leave him.