The Friend

By Sallie Cochren

Jessica isn't your average fourth-grade girl. The victim of bullying, Jessica wants nothing more than to have a friend of her own. When Jessica mysteriously shows up one day, Jessica finally finds an ally. However, Aisha may not be the friend she appears to be. When others begin to sense the dark presence of Jessica's unseen friend, will it be too late? Aisha will do anything to protect her own existence, even kill. She finds that she enjoys taking a human life so much that there may be no stopping her. How many people will Aisha kill and can anyone stop someone who they can't even see? Will anyone be safe?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sallie Cochren
• Release date: Dec 23, 2019
• ISBN: 9781370485475

Sallie Cochren

Sallie Cochren has always loved a good story and enjoys stories in a variety of genres. She started writing short stories and skits as a child, thinking it was a great way to spend her free time. She always wanted to write a book of her own, but her teaching career kept her so busy that there was no time to write. When she resigned from her teaching job, she finally had time to start writing and fulfill her lifelong dream.Sallie is drawn to many genres. Her stories encompass a range of writing. She has written horror novels, science fiction, psychological thrillers and even Christian fantasy. She has also written a lighter read with her Alien Cats trilogy. She is currently working on a dystopian series as well as continuing her vampire hunter series.When she isn’t writing, she enjoys reading and watching movies. She also loves animals and enjoys spending time with her cat.

Book preview

The Friend

By Sallie Cochren

All characters and names of characters are fictional and the sole creation of the author. Any resemblance to any person, living or dead, is coincidental.

To learn about more books by the author or to view book trailers, go to www.salliecochren.com.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by mechanical or electronic means including storage and retrieval systems without the author’s permission. An exception will be made for reviewers. If leaving a review, you may quote a short excerpt. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

Copyright Sallie Cochren March 2017

All Rights Reserved

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Author’s Reflections

Chapter 1

As he pulled his mail truck up to the next house on Palmetta Drive, Gary Anderson steeled himself. He inhaled deeply and tried to steady himself as he pulled the mail out of his bag. On this street, the houses had mail slots. He had to physically get out of his car to go deposit the mail at the door rather than just drive by and slip it in the boxes. He normally enjoyed the chance to get out and stretch his legs, but not here. He would have paid a substantial portion of his salary to avoid walking anywhere near that front door.

There was something eerie about this house, but he couldn’t quite figure out what it was. It was like watching one of those late-night creepy movies that made your skin crawl. Every time he got near the place, he could feel the hair rise on the back of his neck. It was odd that he felt this way. He would have thought that the cheerful sound of a child playing would make him feel at ease, but it didn’t. The only consolation he had was that when the school week started up again and the child was at school, the eerie presence that seemed to accompany her would go away. At least, that was how it was on most school days. Saturday should be his favorite day, but it wasn’t. Odds were that he would feel the sinister presence today as the child who lived here would most likely be home.

The funny thing was that Gary loved children. He had three of his own and loved nothing more than being able to go home at the end of a long day and spend time with his family. He had nothing against kids.

In reality, he had never even seen the child who he could hear playing inside the house or in the backyard. The windows were kept open in the summer, and the sounds of her voice would filter through the air. He could hear her talking to someone but had yet to hear the other person speak. He assumed whoever she was speaking to must have a low voice and that’s why he couldn’t hear any response. It was weird, though. Gary somehow felt that whoever that little girl was talking to had something to do with the creepy feeling he always got when he came anywhere near that place.

There was no more delaying it. He had to deliver the mail to the house. The sooner he got it over with, the better. He always felt good when it was done and he could move on. As he approached the house, he realized it was unusually silent today. There was no sound of anyone talking and no indication of any movement inside the house. In fact, the windows were closed. As he got closer, he saw that the corner of the living room curtain was drawn back just enough to allow someone to watch him. Even before he saw the curtain move, though, he could feel their eyes on him. He could sense that he was being watched closely by someone who did not approve of him approaching the house.

A darkness fell over him, and he suddenly felt nauseous. This often happened to him when he came here. He had some sort of a sixth sense that could tell when there was something dark and sinister nearby. Once again, that was what he was feeling today.

He got to the porch and climbed the stairs. He could feel the presence stronger now. Whoever was in that house was just on the other side of the door. He wanted to drop the mail on the porch and run back to his mail truck, but that would likely get him another complaint. He had done this a few times in the past. When his supervisor had spoken to him about it, Gary could only pretend that he had accidentally dropped the letters. He couldn’t tell his scientifically-minded supervisor, Tom, that he was afraid of spooks, as Tom would refer to them. Tom was one of those people who didn’t believe in anything supernatural. He only believed in the things that he could see and touch. If something couldn’t be proved by science, then it obviously didn’t exist as far as Tom was concerned. Not only would he laugh at Gary, but he would also dock him on his evaluation. He might even be sent in for a psychiatric exam for believing in ghost stories.

Gary wasn’t the only person who felt this way about this house. Once when he was delivering mail to the woman who lived next door, she had met him on her porch. She was an elderly woman, and they had engaged in a short conversation. She had told Gary that there was something wrong in that house, something unnatural. She told Gary she would go nowhere near it and wanted nothing to do with that little girl who lived there. She somehow knew that the child was linked to whatever was going on. It consoled Gary somewhat to know that it wasn’t just him who sensed the disturbing presence in that house.

There was no way around it. Gary could delay his mail delivery no further. Now at the door, the presence of a being on the other side of the door overwhelmed him. He started breathing rapidly and could feel his heartrate increase as the adrenaline pumped through his system. Taking one last deep breath, he reached for the flap that opened the mail slot.

With one hand, he raised the flap and started to quickly deposit the mail with his other hand, but something went drastically wrong. His finger got caught on a sharp ridge on the lower edge of the slot. Immediately, someone from inside reached their fingers through the slot and pulled on his hand sharply. They were so strong. Gary couldn’t free his hand, and he felt his fingers being pulled through the slot. Gary screamed out loud and shouted for the person to let go.

Suddenly, he felt an intense stabbing pain in his hand. He shrieked and pulled with all his strength to get his hand loose. As he finally freed it, he fell backwards onto the porch. In horror, he looked down to see his finger was dripping blood. The gash was long where the knife had slashed at it.

Gary felt dizzy. Still, he ran back to the truck, swaying a little as he did. He got in and frantically drove far away from the house before he picked up his cell phone and called 911. Once he knew help was on the way, he leaned back in his truck and tried not to faint. He was traumatized, and the pain in his finger was intensifying. At least, one thing was for sure. Now, Tom would have to listen to him since Gary would have proof that there was something wrong with that house. He would request to never have to go near that place again!

About three months earlier:

Hey, dork! Bradley called across the playground. Where’s your friend?

Jessica sat on the bench that overlooked the playground from the side and kept her head down. It was best to not meet Bradley’s eyes, to not let him see her cry. She tried to keep the tears in but felt one fall down her cheek. Bradley took great pleasure in taunting her every day. His friends laughed as he pointed at Jessica and made fun of her.

Stupid dork baby doesn’t have any friends! he called. Whaaa, whaaa, whaaa! I think she’s crying!

He and his friends burst out laughing. Jessica sat and trembled, hoping inwardly that he and his nasty friends would stay on the playground and not come anywhere near her.

Bradley often reminded Jessica that she didn’t have any friends. Jessica was an only child. She had both her parents, and they had one of those rare marriages where they were truly happy and would likely be together for the rest of their lives. They loved Jessica dearly.

Jessica couldn’t bring herself to tell her parents about the bullying at school. She was somehow ashamed of it and thought she was responsible. There must be something wrong with her. If she was to tell her parents, they might not want her anymore. They might see how defective she was. She couldn’t bear the thought of that, of the only people on the planet who loved her suddenly seeing her for the misfit that she was.

In her nine years of life, there was nothing Jessica longed for more than to have a friend of her own, someone who could understand her and play games with her. But Jessica knew that would never happen. Nobody wanted to have anything to do with her. She had no social skills and was terrified of talking to anyone around her. She didn’t know how to go about making friends, and her shyness and lack of self-confidence prevented her from having a normal childhood.

At home, Jessica contented herself to playing with her dolls in her room or coloring in her color books. She tried desperately to not think about school, to not think about the awful kids she had to deal with every day. It was a lonely existence for Jessica, and she didn’t know how to break free from it. She clung to the hope that someday she would have a friend, just one. That was all that was needed, someone to confide in and someone who would think she was the greatest person ever.

Today was especially miserable. Growing up in Illinois, Jessica was used to cold weather. But today, it was even colder than usual. As she sat bundled up in her winter coat and felt the cold breeze on her face, Jessica began to shake. It wasn’t just trembling from fear of bullies now, but a genuine coldness that ran through her. She felt the need to run, to get her body temperature up, but she couldn’t draw attention to herself. She couldn’t join in the frivolity on the playground, so she pulled her arms around her as tightly as she could as she began to rock gently on the bench. Anything to keep warm!

Her coat had a hood that covered her head, but Jessica had left her winter hat at home. The kids had made fun of her for wearing it. They said it looked silly to wear a hat under the hood of her coat and that it made her look stupid even though several other students also wore a hat and a hood together. Yet they never received the same criticism that Jessica did. Of course, the bullies made sure to point out that Jessica truly was stupid, with or without the hat.

Bradley and his friends had engaged in a snowball fight. As Jessica sat half-frozen, a snowball suddenly whirled toward her and hit her in the face. It stung so badly even though it was just snow. Her whole face felt like it was frozen. She wiped the snow quickly from her face as she began to tremble and shake even more. She thought for sure that she would freeze to death and began to cry.

The boys burst out laughing, thinking it was hysterical.

Oh, look at that! You made her cry! Eric said. Poor baby doesn’t like snowballs! Want some more snowballs, baby?!

The next thing Jessica knew the boys were pummeling her with snowballs. They were coming rapidly. She wanted to get up and run, but all she could do was duck her head down and hope for the assault to end quickly.

The girls nearest Jessica began to snicker. They thought Jessica was pathetic.

Why does she just sit there? Amanda asked. Why doesn’t she do something?

What a loser! Sarah agreed.

There group was small, and the other two girls giggled along with them.

Pathetic! Amanda said.

Jessica could barely make out what the girls were saying. She knew how they felt about her. She thought if she was gone, nobody would miss her. She had never known any other way at school. Kids had always treated her like this. The boys bullied her, and the girls looked at her like she was a nobody. The girls sometimes talked softly about her and whispered behind her back. But more often than not, Jessica heard the vile things they said about her. She hated them as much as she hated the boys.

The boys had thrown the last of the snowballs for now. They looked at Jessica, laughing and pointing at her. Mrs. Henshaw heard them and came to see what was happening.

Enough! Mrs. Henshaw shouted at them.

The boys grumbled as they walked away. Mrs. Henshaw tried to help when she saw the boys bullying Jessica. But most of the time, she didn’t catch them. When she did, she only temporarily stopped their bullying. They always came back for more. The truth was that unless there was a physical fight, the adults at school felt like they couldn’t do much. The principal often blew complaints off, saying that kids were just being kids. It wasn’t worth going to her unless someone had truly crossed the line.

Mrs. Henshaw came to where Jessica was.

Are you alright? Mrs. Henshaw asked.

Jessica shyly looked up.

The girls nearby started snickering some more.

Hush! Mrs. Henshaw reprimanded them.

Jessica shook her head yes, pretending that she was fine.

Did the boys do something to you? Mrs. Henshaw asked.

There was a lot of extra snow at Jessica’s feet. Mrs. Henshaw suspected they had thrown a snowball or two at her.

Jessica shook her head no.

Mrs. Henshaw sighed. She could never get Jessica to tell her anything.

You look like you’re freezing, Mrs. Henshaw observed. Why don’t you go into the classroom and get warm?

Even though Mrs. Henshaw wasn’t very good at protecting Jessica from the bullying, Jessica was grateful for the kindness and the opportunity to escape the playground. She couldn’t wait to get warm and wanted to run back to the room. But that would make her look even more pathetic, a loser running away from her bullies. So, she walked slowly.

By the time she got back to the classroom, she only had a few minutes before the bell rang. She felt a knot in her stomach as she heard the bell and thought about her nasty classmates. If only she had a friend, just one. She began to imagine what a friend would be like. She would have blonde hair just like Jessica. She would be very pretty and wear the nicest clothes. Everyone would want to be her friend, but she would only be friends with Jessica. As Jessica thought about what her friend would be like, the image became very real to her. It was like she could fully envision who she would be.

Jessica was lost in her thoughts when the scuffle of shoes and kids happily chatting with each other interrupted her. As the classroom filled up, there was no more quietness. Kids talked nonstop. As they saw Jessica, their expressions changed. They took a moment to give her a look of disgust and disapproval before returning to their happy chatter with their friends.

At least, the day was almost over. They had just returned from afternoon recess which meant there were only one and a half hours left in the school day. It was mid-January. Jessica was halfway through the fourth grade. Winter break had gone way too quickly. Now, it seemed like an eternity before the school year would be over and Jessica would get a decent break from the kids around her.

Fortunately, they always had literature after they got back from afternoon recess. That was Jessica’s favorite subject, aside from Art. Jessica liked listening to her teacher as she read them stories. Jessica imagined herself in other places living in some alternate reality with the characters in the stories. It was the easiest time of day to try to forget about her classmates.

Jessica didn’t like to be near the other students while they listened to the story, though. So, she sat behind them on the outer rim of the circle they had made on the floor. She put as much distance as she could between herself and the others while trying to stay close enough so that it wouldn’t prompt Mrs. Henshaw to tell her to come closer. Of course, being further back, she didn’t have as good of a view of all the great pictures in the book. Jessica hated that. Still, it was a lot better than having to sit any closer to the other kids.

Jessica looked at the students who were closest to her. Any more distance and Mrs. Henshaw would ask her to move closer to her. Any less, and the others would awkwardly wiggle to get themselves away from Jessica, making her feel even more like an outcast.

Jessica listened eagerly to the story. It involved wolves and bears. Jessica loved animals. She thought it would be better if she could go to school with them instead of children. She would be able to get along with animals so much more easily. She knew they wouldn’t reject her and treat her like a nobody.

When the story was almost over, Mrs. Henshaw stopped reading and closed the book. The kids protested and demanded that she finish the story.

Don’t worry, Mrs. Henshaw assured them. I’ll finish it tomorrow, but your task today is to write your own ending. Think of what you think the last four pages of the book should say. You’ll be working in groups of four. After you think of what the last four pages should say, each of you will write one sentence for your page and draw a picture to go with it. Then, we’ll share your endings tomorrow before we read the real ending.

There was a mixed reaction among the students. Some were thrilled as they were creative and couldn’t wait to tell their own stories, but there were also the grumblers who thought this was the worst assignment ever. Everyone waited to see how Mrs. Henshaw would arrange them in groups.

Jessica felt a knot in her stomach. She hated group work and only wanted to work by herself. This was her favorite time of the school day, but now it was ruined. She wanted to cry, but she held her tears in and tried to be strong.

Mrs. Henshaw thought she was doing a great favor when she put Jessica with three other girls. She didn’t realize the extent of their bullying and thought if Jessica worked with them, maybe she would come out of her shell and make some friends. Jessica reluctantly went to her group, upset that Amanda was one of the other girls who she had to work with. Fortunately, Amanda’s friends weren’t in the group also. That was Jessica’s only saving grace. But no one liked Jessica, so it was still uncomfortable even if Amanda didn’t have her usual cohorts to conspire with her.

The other two girls in the group were Alice and Jenna. Like the others in their small group, they sat with their desks facing each other.

So, what do you guys think should happen next? Alice asked.

Who cares? Amanda answered. Just write down anything to get this awful assignment done.

I thought you liked to write, Jenna said.

I usually do, Amanda replied in a disgusted tone, looking at Jessica. She made it clear that the only reason she wasn’t happy was because she was stuck with Jessica in her group.

Alice and Jenna let a small giggle slip out, but at least they didn’t say anything nasty. Sometimes, Jessica didn’t know if the insults or the silence was worse.

I think the bear should eat the hunter! Jenna said.

What hunter? Alice asked.

Amanda twiddled her thumbs and tried to pretend she was in any other group than this one.

We could make one up! Jenna suggested.

That’s silly, Alice replied. We’re supposed to finish it based on the real story.

That’s no fun, Jenna replied. I don’t like hunters. I think the bears need to eat one.

Mrs. Henshaw! Alice called, and their teacher came over.

Yes, Alice? Mrs. Henshaw asked.

Can we make the bear eat a hunter? Alice asked.

Honey, there’s no hunter in the story, Mrs. Henshaw replied and moved on to the next group.

See? I told you! Alice said.

Whatever, Jenna replied.

So, what are we going to write about then? Amanda asked in an agitated tone.

Mrs. Henshaw had left the story with the wolves and bears going home from school when they suddenly encountered a surprise. Jessica wanted to write that they had come across a lost skunk and that they stopped to help the poor critter find his way home before returning to their own homes. She didn’t mention her idea, though. The others would surely make fun of her and say it was stupid.

Let’s say that the bear stumbles and stubs his toe, Alice suggested.

Yeah, and then the other bear and the wolves help him home, Jenna added.

That’s perfect, Alice agreed.

Jessica thought it didn’t sound nearly as exciting as finding a lost skunk, but she kept her mouth shut. Instead, she listened and waited to be told what to write and draw. Of course, when the girls filled out their group evaluation cards, they all wrote down that Jessica didn’t participate. It wasn’t like they would have listened to her anyway. They would have just belittled her for her idea.

Finally, much to Jessica’s relief, the school day ended. The kids gathered their belongings and hurried to the buses. Jessica took her time. She liked to wait for the halls to clear and get to the bus at the last minute. There was usually a seat left up front where she could sit near the driver and try to ignore the other students. Jessica was terrified of being in a busy hallway. Someone would be sure to push or shove her. Once, she had been shoved into a locker so hard that it had bruised her arm. A hall monitor had seen Jessica fall into the locker and had investigated. Of course, it was ruled an accident. So, nothing had happened to the person who had shoved her. That was just one more reason why Jessica decided it was easier to not report anyone. Nothing would be done to them anyway and it would make her look like she was falsely accusing them. It was better to avoid the other students as much as possible.

You’d better hurry, Jessica, Mrs. Henshaw prompted. You don’t want to miss your bus.

Jessica nodded and tried to make it look like she was hurrying. Finally, when she had no other choice, she left the classroom and started to walk toward the buses. Again, Jessica was lost in her thoughts, thinking how nice it would be to have a friend. Once more, she could picture exactly what her friend would look like. The image was so real. It was like she had seen this girl before, yet she knew that she hadn’t.

As Jessica left the classroom, she looked down the hall. There were a few girls at the end of the hallway. Two girls from Jessica’s class, Amy and Brenda, were picking up some papers they had dropped, and there was a girl with long blonde hair leaned over the water faucet. When she had finished drinking, she stood and turned toward Jessica. Jessica stood frozen in shock as the girl stared intently in her direction. Jessica couldn't believe what she was seeing. It was the girl she had pictured in her mind, the spitting image! The girl turned away from Jessica and walked around the corner. Jessica wanted to follow after her, but there was something eerie and unreal about her. Had she imagined her? Had she really seen her at all? Jessica felt a chill go up her spine. She could feel that something wasn’t right, like she had seen a ghost or something.

Mrs. Henshaw came out of the room and saw Jessica standing frozen in place.

Jessica! she said. What are you doing? You’re going to miss your bus!

Jessica blinked her eyes and tried to come back to reality. She saw Mrs. Henshaw looking concerned.

Sorry, Jessica apologized.

No sorries! Mrs. Henshaw said. Just scoot! Go get on your bus now!

There was nothing teachers hated more than having kids miss the bus. Mrs. Henshaw had once had to wait for Jessica’s parents to come pick her up. True, she could have taken Jessica to the office, but the office staff hated when they had to babysit children after school. It put teachers on their bad side, so teachers usually stayed with their students for as long as they could. Mrs. Henshaw had waited over an hour for Jessica’s parents that time. She didn’t want to have to do that again.

Jessica hurried toward the bus. When she got to the end of the hallway where the girl had disappeared, she slowed down and looked around. There was no sign of the girl. But there was still an eerie presence in the air, like someone had been there who didn’t belong. Jessica tried to shake off the nervous feeling and continued to the buses. When she got to her bus, she took her seat in the front. The bus driver looked at her watch and gave Jessica a look of reprimand.

I almost left without you! Mrs. Herelsen said.

Yeah, loser! You delayed us getting out of this place! Bradley added.

Mrs. Herelsen shot him a stern look, indicating he needed to knock it off.

Bradley quieted down. He was sitting on the opposite side of the bus and was one row behind Jessica. The only thing that saved Jessica from an onslaught of spit wads was that she was sitting so close to Mrs. Herelsen. At least, one thing was going Jessica’s way today.

The bus ride home was noisy. Kids chatted loudly, and music played lightly through the bus speakers. Jessica tried to forget about the other kids and wanted to get lost in her own thoughts again, but she couldn’t really do that. She always had the constant fear that Bradley would try something,