chapter 1

If there was one thing Molly hated most in her life,it was the sound of the morning alarm.it had a way of penetrating into her sleep and ruining her wonderful dreams. 

she gritted her teeth in anger as she forced herself to rise up from bed.Her eyes were still heavy with sleep as she walked into the bathroom. 

she could hear her mother heading towards her room and murmuring something about being too lazy. 

"1…2…."Molly counted ,doing the same thing she loved doing every morning. 

Her mother banged on the door and Molly repeated after her mother as she said the same words she would always say every morning. 

"Molly!!! Stop being a lazy ass and get up from the bed right now.You're going to be late to school if you keep up with this and I can assure you that I won't sit back and watch you play lazy!!!"  

Molly giggled as she mimicked her mother. 

Her mother stopped banging and Molly knew it was over..That was the normal routine. 

But surprisingly,Her mother added "Molly,I might not be downstairs when you finally come down,I have to rush somewhere" 

Molly turned as she felt the pause from outside her room before her mother finally left. 

she sighed "That's a new one".

When Molly finally made her way down the stairs, her mother was truly not there.The house seemed empty unlike every other morning where her mother walked around, giving orders and making sure she and her younger brother,Ryan,were not late for school.

Her mother would rise up early in the morning, check up on them, prepare breakfast,watch them go to the school before she finally set out to work.Her mother worked as a secretary for COLE'S ENTERPRISE.The company specializes in home made materials and we're one of the best.

As a little child,she had watched her mother struggle alone to make ends meet and her mother rarely shared her pain with anyone.Molly had watched her mother stay up most nights and cry but whenever she summoned courage to approach her,she would always say "Go and sleep,Molly.i can sort this out on my own"

"But ..you look .."

"Get away from me, Molly!!!" 

At times like this,Molly missed her father but there was nothing she could do.Thinking about her father only brought back painful memories that are meant to be forgotten. 

Molly could remember the last time she saw him.He was looking so frail and haggard and she wondered if he'd drop dead soon.He was looking like he had been sick for a long time. 

He had stood on the balcony with her mother and even though Molly couldn't make out everything that was said,she knew she had heard her mother request for a divorce. 

"You can't be a father to my children when you can't even look after yourself,Tony.I won't let that happen.As much as I want this to work, you're giving me bigger reasons why it wouldn't!!" 

"Just this once,let me prove myself to them" 

Her mother had laughed mockingly as tears ran down her face "you've had several opportunities to do that Tony but what did you do? You blew it up!!!"

From the window,Molly watched her father groan in frustration "I love you,Suzie,you know that and I'm willing to …."

Her mother gave her father a cold look and said "Get out,Tony and never let me see you here again"

"Suzie…"

"Out of our lives!!  I and the kids can do well without you!!"

With one last look at her mother,her father had walked away.

"Booooooom!!" Someone shouted behind her, bringing Molly back to reality.

Molly turned to see her brother making a mischievous face at her "I am the devil and I'll find you"Ryan said, looking serious as he played the character from the movie he had watched the night before.

Molly shook her head and sighed "seriously?? ,Ryan, seriously?"

Ryan ignored her as he sat on the couch "where's mum?"

She shrugged and sat next to him "I don't know but I feel something's not right.Think about it.Mum would never leave home before us and it's just 7:30am."

Ryan was in deep thought and nodded in agreement "what if dad is in trouble again?".

Picking up her school bag, she hit her brother on the head "how dare you bring up dad at this time?"

Ryan held his head and scowled at his sister "is that why you hit me on the head?!"

She ignored him "get up or we'd really be late for school"

She walked out smiling mischievously as Ryan rushed after her and made to hit her.

Soon,she found herself running as Ryan ran after her.

They were both out of breath when they finally got to school.

"You… you're mean"Ryan said, catching his breath.

"It was only a tap on the head!"Molly said as she held her chest and tapped it repeatedly, calming herself down.

They were still talking when Chloe, Molly's best friend started walking towards them.

Ryan's palm suddenly felt watery as he watched Chloe approach.She was very beautiful,he couldn't deny the fact and not only was she two years older than him, she was also a class ahead of him and asides that,she was his sister's best friend.

She smiled as she approached, causing his heart to leap .

When she got to him,Ryan was still dazed.

"Hi, Ryan" she said and winked at him.

Ryan suddenly felt akward around her and instead of answering her,he walked away, embarrassed.

Molly was smiling now as she understood what was going on but Chloe felt hurt.

"Did your brother just ignore me?"

Molly feigned surprise as she shrugged "I'm as surprised as you are."

They were walking towards the classroom as other students scurried to their class at the sound of the bell.

When Molly got to the class, she noticed that the students were paired up and they murmured amongst each other.

"What's going on?" She asked Chloe as they both sat down.

Chloe bent down and motioned Molly to move closer to her.

"There's a rumour that OLIVIA PERRY is back" Chloe said in a whisper.

Molly stared at her friend for what seemed to be a long time and then suddenly burst into laughter.

Chloe looked pissed " see, everyone is talking about it,ok?"

Molly stopped laughing "That doesn't mean it's true.c'mon,you know those things don't exist.Olivia died a long time ago!"

Chloe held her friend's hands "see,I know it's a lot for you to take in but a student saw her last night at the old warehouse and she said she was sure it was her as she kept digging the ground with her fingers"

Molly was getting scared "That's creepy"

"I know,right but that's not the end of it.The student said she didn't see her face but what she saw was a shadow"

"That's ridiculous"

"It is but that's the fact.olivia Perry appeared as a shadow"

Molly gazed at her friend and all she could think of was "danger"