Chapter One: On That Night

???, (POV)

"You were only twelve when you first saw her. She had her head down as she first entered the classroom. Chestnut-colored hair and brown eyes, but you couldn't unsee the sadness on her face. Then you heard her name for the first time. 'Lauren,' I said with my lips curving upwards into a smile, looking at his miserable face.

"You thought to yourself that you might like her, but it wasn't that easy, was it, Edward?" I asked. He only remained silent, his eyes downcast on the table.

"Your eyes always went towards her, always peeking. You couldn't help but notice that none of the other children approached her. She was all alone in your class, so you wanted to be the first. Having those brown eyes stare at you and hearing that fragile voice – it was nice. It made you feel special," I said, expecting a reaction, but he remained quiet, staring at the table."It was understandable that you were curious. Soon, you learned so much about Lauren. Like where her house was, or that she visited the same church as your family, where you first met her father. But you also learned that her mother had passed away, which made you want to care for her," I said. He continued to stay silent.

After all that I had said, Edward kept up his composure. It was frankly starting to frustrate me to put up with this childish silence.

I tapped my hands on the table. "How long will you stay silent!?" I demanded, but he didn't reply. "Do you wish to forget about her that desperately?" I said, my voice echoing in the blackness.But still no reaction. I sighed, frustration growing in the pit of my stomach. I pushed back into my chair and sat down, hunching forward on the table, resting my elbows on the surface, and crossing my fingers."I know, Edward. You had to wipe her away from your memory because that's just who you are. But that's not why we're here, remember? Let's start with what happened to your dear Lauren on that night," I said.There was a moment of silence just before he looked up and stared into my face. I understood his circumstances for his decision, but I couldn't care less about them.

Edward Foster, (POV)

It was the end of the school day on Friday. My classmates had formed groups to decide on plans for Saturday with each other. A few people I got along with wanted to party at a friend's house whose parents were out of town. It sounded fun, but I wasn't interested. So, I politely declined and left the classroom because I had other plans for the weekend.I left behind the noisy classrooms and pushed through the crowded hallway, escaping the claustrophobic mess and entering the school grounds. I immediately looked around for her.And there she was, just in time, coming out of the west side. Wearing blue denim shorts and a black shirt with a purple butterfly embroidered on it, tucked in, she quickly noticed me and smiled.Lauren's chestnut-colored hair flowed in the wind as she tried to pull it out of her face. We both started walking, exchanged glances, and met on the sidewalk. We waited until we were out of the school zone.The sun peeked out from behind the clouds while the birds chirped in the trees. We finally stopped at a fence.She looked at me with a smile. "Oh, hello, Mr. Edward," Lauren said, bowing while trying to hold back her giggles and maintain her composure.This wasn't our usual routine. She did whatever she wanted, and I always went along with it. "Miss Lauren, what a coincidence," I said, bowing my head with my arm across my chest. I pulled my head up to meet her wide smile. We continued walking, playfully bumping shoulders with each other.The sun was hidden behind the clouds. The wind blew against our faces, and the trees shook, dropping leaves on us."Can't wait, huh?" I asked Lauren. She narrowed her eyes at me but kept up her smile. "Of course, I can't wait," she replied."Oh well, I'm starting to get concerned about your mental health," I said, rolling my eyes at her."Well, yeah, haven't you seen the trailer? Sinister got me all excited, and it's supposed to be the most gruesome one yet," she said enthusiastically. Honestly, I couldn't relate to her taste for horror movies.Every day after school, we would always take the same route. It was the best option since our houses were in the same general direction. Mine was a bit farther than hers, but that wasn't a problem.Lauren suddenly stopped and looked at me with a forced frown. "Oh wait," she said in a soft tone, as if speaking to a child. "Don't tell me you're scared.""Excuse me," I said, surprised. "I'm the one driving us there, so you better watch it," I retorted, but it was pointless."Don't worry, Eddy, I'll protect you from the scary monsters," Lauren said, rubbing the back of my head. I sighed while she enjoyed teasing me.Since Lauren's house was first, we soon reached a very green block. Many of her neighbors had grassy lawns with white fences, and some had their sprinklers on. There were other kids walking around us, and a bustling school bus rushed past, dropping children at their houses."Just so you know, I had to say no to the party at Brook's house," I quickly said to Lauren."Or maybe they forgot to invite you," she said with a straight face. "Haha, very funny," I replied sarcastically, rolling my eyes.We turned the corner, reaching the path to her home. Her house was close to the school, which made me think Mr. Taylor was a genius for choosing that location."They might not have minded me disappearing since I am a nerd, after all," I said. "But you are my nerd, so it's fine," she said, giving me a light punch on the arm."You only say that because I helped you get good grades," I replied."Exactly right, my love," she said with a smile. I sighed."So, I'll come and pick you up at ten," I said, hoping to see her again. We stopped a few houses away from hers. "Sure," she said, patiently meeting my eyes.Lauren was about my height, maybe a few centimeters shorter. We met eyes, and I took a step closer to her, reflexively glancing around. There were other people around, but none paid attention to us.As I turned back to face her, she tilted her head forward. We met for a quick kiss goodbye.

We pulled back, both of us slightly embarrassed. "Well, goodbye, I guess," I said as she just smiled back at me without looking me in the eyes.

???, (POV)

My stomach tugged against my throat, causing me to leap up from my chair. Both of my hands shot towards him and tightly grabbed the collar of his trench coat, lifting him and bringing him an inch away from my face.

"You fucking bastard, what do you think you're doing?! Do you think I'm here to see your bullshit?" I yelled, but still no reaction. I scoffed, throwing him back into his place. It was starting to feel like I was talking to a dead man.

I sighed and quickly settled my composure. I promptly picked up my chair that was on its back. Just now, I had snapped, which was highly unlike me. But there was something about this obsession with pointless memories that disgusted me. However, I was unable to remember why, or that I too had forgotten.

I sat down and took a deep breath again. "You act like a drug addict and a fool, always going back and forth. But now you're in no position to dream about this," I said, clenching my teeth. "That whore was the cause of all your problems, whether you like it or not," I said, and he looked up at me.

I almost flinched in surprise; anger and discontent were wrapped across his face as if I had struck a nerve.

"What's with that look? Are you perhaps angry at me? You? Who's mindlessly hanging onto memories of her? Why don't you remember what happened on that lonesome night!" I said, my voice rising again in the emptiness of the space.

Edward Foster, (POV)

I tugged popcorn stuck in between my teeth and ignored the taste of the discounted fountain drink stuck in the back of my tongue.

Watching a horror scene of a family getting strangled on a tree or another being cooked inside a chained-up car was still fresh in my mind. Not to mention the unforgettable feeling of something moving inside a picture when it should be still. But in the end, I guess it was all good if she enjoyed it.

I shook my head, trying to forget the horror that I had witnessed tonight. While Lauren got inside the car and sat beside me, sadistically enjoyed the horrified expression on my face from the beginning of the movie, till now.

Suddenly, while still. I heard a faint slight buzz in my head. Not like a fly, but rather an electric.

Giggling, she gently placed her hand on my cheek, "Edward, love do you want me to buy you a night light". She asked with a wide smile, finding my pain hilarious.

I turned to her. "Thanks to you I already have one," I said, looking at her with a stern expression and starting the car without looking.

She instantly broke into a grin while I sighed and looked ahead. While I drove the car out of the parking lot. We got out on the illuminated streets and soon on the highway. It was a late night, the breeze was cold and refreshing and the moon was high with the sky cloudless.

"I can't believe it, I spent twelve pounds on nightmares," I needlessly complained once more. "Hmm did you hate it that much?" Lauren asked with a frown.

"Not our time together, just the movie, although. now I can say I have something far better to look at," I said without breaking eye contact.

She immediately pushed my head back, clenching her teeth. "Oh shut up".

I laughed, quickly glancing at the clear road, then back at her. "Come on, Don't look away, I am sorry", I said in a high pitch.

She sighed and turned her head towards me just before pausing. Her gaze became stuck on something on the road, and quickly, her eyes widen in panic. "Look out!" she yelled, and my head snapped back on the road.

There was a white figure on the road ahead of us. Without a second thought, I jolted the steering wheel to my left. Nonetheless, the figure crashed into the bumper, hitting the windshield and then landing on the road behind us.

The car came to a screeching halt towards the metal rail on the side. We both sat still for a moment to process what had happened, but before I could act, Lauren grabbed my hand. I turned to her pale face. "Edward, listen to me. Just start the car and let's just drive away. Please", Lauren suddenly pleaded with sincerity in her voice.

But I just looked at her confusedly with shock mixed in. "What? You want me to leave someone I hit with my car?" I asked with wide eyes while I grabbed the car handle.

"Just...Just please, let's go right now!" Lauren again pleaded with me. Tears started welling up in her eyes, but the absurdity of the situation was too much.

"Calm down It'll be fine", I said as I pulled the lever and opened the car door.

She grabbed onto my sleeve in a last desperate attempt to stop me. "Don't go!". Lauren yelled again, but I pushed myself out.

"Just stay inside!" I said back with growing frustration. Lauren screamed my name, but I didn't understand why she was acting like that.

I stepped on the road and looked down at who I had run over with my car, and when I saw it. My mind skipped a beat.

It was a mangled white mannequin with a twisted leg and an arm and its head to its side. Its smooth white surface reflected the moonlight and the way its body slummed down almost felt like someone was wearing it as a suit.

The first thought that came to my mind, was that maybe this was a sick prank. Someone had jokingly placed a dummy on the road to scare some unexpecting drivers.

Cruel but somewhat grounded in reality, but then it quickly started moving.

All four limbs twisted backward at the ground, like appendages of an insect. Its hip broke, allowing it to spread its legs to its side and its knees up to the sky. It picked itself up from the ground, and its head snapped toward me.

It stared at me, with a smooth white oval surface. Suddenly I heard the car door open and my head snapped towards Lauren jumping out and bolting away from the car.

At that moment, I could only stare at her. Not understanding what was happening. Why was she asking me to drive away? Did she see what it was? Or, did she know what it was?

I could have spent hours thinking about it, but then it landed on my car. With a loud crash, I immediately covered my face as the glass shard flew everywhere. In the next moment, it leaped from the top of the car towards her.

That thing was after Lauren, and she knew that. Its speed was unreal, as It reached Lauren with few leaps. Pouncing on her, like a spider catching its prey. Bashing her head down into the ground right on the gravel. Seeing her body go limp shocked me to the core.

I needed to help her, I needed a weapon quickly. I looked at my car, and the door was already cracked open because of the incaved roof. Seeing the car jack rod sticking out from behind the back seat. I ran to it and pulled it out.

While the Mannequin's hips joined back together and its knees came forward, it stood up at just under eight feet tall. It held Lauren with the back of her neck, like a kitten. I squeezed the rod tightly in my hand, while my senses screamed at me to turn around.

Screaming at the top of my lungs and silencing my fear, I sprinted forwards. It didn't care, nor bothered to move or pay attention to me, until I had stabbed the rod into its back.

I managed to do it and rather easily. The jack went straight through its body, but it seemed empty from the inside. While the Mannequin awkwardly turned around and looked down at me, with the rod sticking out of his front.

It just stared at me with its flat face, while I stared back, neither of us making a move. I was all too afraid of what would happen I looked away, but I had to and did, at Lauren.

She was out cold, bleeding from her forehead, and unmoving. And right then, I suddenly woke up to the fear and care for my own life, causing me to flinch. And so did the Mannequin, who responded by hunching slightly, enough for me to notice it.

Then suddenly, its jolted head back and shot its leg up, right into my abdomen. The ground beneath my feet disappeared as my eyes bulged outwards. I saw them getting far away from me, with Lauren still in its hand. I couldn't do anything, as I landed on the front of my car.

A loud crack entered my ear, and I wasn't sure whether it was my body that made the sound or the windscreen behind my back. My mouth was wide open, gasping for air, but I couldn't breathe. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't bring myself to breathe. Soon the numbing sensation of a sudden shock started to disappear.

I started feeling pain, first in the chest, then the neck, then the back. My arms and legs went numb, and I couldn't feel or move. It took me a moment to realize that everything was becoming darker. I was losing sight of Lauren. Then all at once, everything, became dark and quiet.