The next morning at our lockers, I told April about the shadow. I also told her of the dream I had that night. It was a really weird dream, unlike any I'd had before. It was all about dragons and shadow men and all sorts of weird stuff. "Wow, are you sure you actually saw that... Thing?" I shook my head intently -- I knew for sure what I saw. Ollie  As I slipped my journal into my locker, I saw Jeffrey Johanson and Madison Berkley walk up, laughing. "What's the joke?" I asked, hoping I could join in the fun. "Oh, nothing," Jeff said. "just a little song I made up about 'Dork Princess'." 'Dork Princess' was what we called Ghanda Feeler, the meanest not-so-popular girl in school. She called herself the 'Math Princess', but everybody else prefered to call her a dork. "So what are you ladies talking about over here?" Jeff asked. I considered whether or not to tell him. He was my friend after all. "Well, see, there was this--" The bell interupted, and everybody rushed to get to class.


Jeffrey's mom drove us home -- The bus was late and it was starting to rain. Everybody was talking to Mrs.Johanson but me. I was too busy listening to the pitter-patter of the rain on the window, and thinking about the shadow-person... Was it a man or woman? Were they looking to harm me? Did they want something I had? Did they want anything to do with me at all?...  I had a million questions going through my head, all unanswered. "Cladia dear, are you even listening? I asked you a question. Cladia. Cladia?" I felt Jeff's hand on my shoulder, trying to shake me. "Oh! Sorry Mrs.Johanson, I was a little carried away." The car pulled up in front of my house. "That's alright dear, it wasn't important." She unlocked the door, and I stepped out. "Hey April, you're coming over later, right? I want to show you something." She leaned over Jeff, and cupped her hands around my ear and whispered, "Does it have to do with the shadow, or the dream in any way?" "Yeah, at least I think so. I dunno." She sat back down, and smoothed out her black mini skirt. "I'll be there around five." She answered, and Jeff closed the door for me. the car drove off without making much noise, and I walked up to the front door. I let myself in and walked to up the stairs. My baby brother was crying as always when he didn't get his feeding yet -- I could never come home to silence. Mom spotted me right before I dissapeared into my room. "Where ya goin Cladia?" She handed me a pile of clothes. I sighed, and reluctantly carried them into my room with me. I plopped them on my bed, and started reading a book while waiting for April to come.


"What took you so long, you said you'd be here around five! It's seven-thirty already!" She rolled her eyes at me, and hung her black coat on the coat-rack. "I already told you on the phone, my parents wanted to go out to the park and take pictures of each other playing soccer. They insisted I come."  I rolled my eyes and started up the stairs, April following. "Whatever." I came into my room, plopped on my bed, and gestured for her to close the door. "So, where and what is it?" She asked, looking impatient. I reached under my bed and pulled out a shoebox. I opened it, took out my Evanessence notebook, and pulled out a beautiful but tarnished silver necklace with onyx set in it. "Ooh, it's beautiful! But what does this have to do with the shadow?" She came and sat down next to me, and touched the onyx stones. "Well, in the middle of the night I awoke, because of strange sounds coming from outside my window. I looked out, and there was the shadow again. It left only a split-secod after I looked, and there was something lying on the grass where the shadow was. I went down there this morning to see if it was still there, and it sure enough was. It must belong to the shadow person or whatever they are..." I put it back in the box, and shoved it under my bed again. She lay down on my bed, and I lay next to her. "You know, wouldn't it be cool if it were a vampire, or a demon, or something like that?" I looked at her for a moment, and we both started laughing. I wouldn't have laughed if I'd have known how close she was. All I knew, was I'd have to find this whatever-it-was before it found ME...