What If—An Anthology of 13 Short Stories

By Kerry ONeal

This book asks the simple question of what if. The answer is expressed in thirteen short stories where ONeal pushes the limits of imaginationfrom a man who wakes up knowing the future date of his death, to a little girls love for her cat that uses each of its nine lives in order to protect her from danger, to an evil ghost of a six-year-old girl trying to return to life by stealing the soul and the body of another six-year-old girl. With the combination of fantasy, the paranormal, ghosts, sci-fi horror, and the unexplained, ONeals characteristic dark humor and savory taste for the macabre and the unknown extends the bounds of the predictable and brings the reader to the brink of sanity and insanity, loneliness and friendship, and into the horrors of human and inhuman existence.

Fans of Dean Koonce, Stephen King, Amazing Tales, and The Twilight Zone will thoroughly enjoy this anthology of unique stories that will be sure to leave you breathless. What If commemorates the mysteries of the world and the unexplained that encompasses each of us and articulates how fast time flies. Never forget that time is the most valuable thing we can spend, ONeal says, so spend it wisely and dont throw it away.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Apr 21, 2018
• ISBN: 9781984521415

Kerry ONeal

Kerry ONeal was born in Illinois in 1953, to Italian and Irish parents. His Father was an English/French teacher, owned two dance studios, a concert pianist / teacher, and a dance choreographer. His Mother was his strength, and they both encouraged him to always follow his dream with a glass half full. Kerry did college textbook illustrations for several publishers, illustrations for installation manuals for farm equipment, designed logos and artwork for city buses, and enjoys woodworking. His first published books were childrens stories, I Wish I could Fly, The lonely Caterpillar and its sequel, I Can Fly, The Lonely Butterfly in 2006. They are both available for the Kindle and in paperback at Amazon. Living in Florida since 2004, he started writing short stories, releasing his 1st book of eleven stories called What If-An Anthology of Short Stories almost a year ago. This is the 2nd edition of What If- An Anthology of 13 Short Stories, including two new stories. Each story originates from the same question of the title, but then the similarity ends entering into the realms of ghosts, the paranormal, inspirational, fantasy, sci-fi horror, and the unexplained.

Book preview

Copyright © 2018 by Kerry ONeal.

Library of Congress Control Number:     2018904370

ISBN:                  Hardcover                  978-1-9845-2139-2

                            Softcover                     978-1-9845-2140-8

                            eBook                          978-1-9845-2141-5

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 04/20/2018

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CONTENTS

THE SHADOW

Preface

I         Dreams

II        Alligator Elevator

III       Room for One

Epilogue

9 LIVES

I

II

III

IV

SPOKEN LANGUAGE

I         History Report

II        History Repeats Itself

III       Therapy

IV       Ku’uti

V        Communication

THE DREAM

Preface

I         Shattered World

II        Therapy

III       Alternative World of Reality

IV       Resolution

THE ROAD OF LIFE

Preface

Epilogue

PAULO & ANTHONY

Introduction

Preface

Epilogue

AUGUST 14, 2022

Preface

Introduction

DIRTY NEEDLES

I         Fishing Trip

II        NGBD

III       Playing God

IV       Yesteryear

V        Annihilation

PRODIGY

Preface

I         Miracle Birth

II        Musical Genius

III       The Truth

IV       Grown-up

Epilogue

WISHMAKER

Preface

I         Reality

II        Mom’s Story

III       The Truth

IV       Falling off the Wagon

V        Fulfillment

WILMA

UNINVITED GUESTS

INCARCERATION

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

VII

VIII

IX

X

XI

Epilogue

The%20Shadow_GS.jpg

THE SHADOW

PREFACE

A ghost is referred to in various terms, including apparition, specter, phantom, spirit of the dead, spook, soul, wraith, and shadow. But do they actually exist? And if so, why do they haunt some of us, and not others? There are numerous accounts throughout history, where some believe that a ghost is the soul or spirit of a dead person, or animal that appear to the living. The skeptics scoff at the idea of ghosts, and can be explained by psychology, misperceptions, mistakes, and frauds. But what if there’s another explanation. What if it involves something dark, and sinister?

I

Dreams

In the dream, Sara was alone in her car, when the engine just sputtered, then stopped, running out of gas. It was extremely cold for mid-October, and the only sound were the frigid eerie wind whipping around the outside of the car. Stranded on a dark country road, miles from home, with no bars showing on her phone, she knew her decision to take a shortcut was a stupid idea. Dustin had reminded her before she pulled out of the driveway, she needs to stop for gas before leaving town, as the low fuel warning light was showing only ten miles of fuel left. Absorbed in her thoughts, on things she needed to buy at the grocery store before they close, his warning was already forgotten, before she turned the corner two blocks from their house.

She heard his words again in her head, as the engine gave its final sputter before dying. She slammed on the steering wheel, upset with herself, for being so preoccupied in her thoughts. As she sat there trying to get a signal, any signal on her cell phone, holding it to one side, and then the other side, outside of the window, she heard the sounds of a car coming from the other direction. Still out of sight, but noticing the driver had obviously turned on the high beams, lighting the entire road as it came around the corner, she immediately realized that her car was sitting with both left tires across the center line. Still plenty of room for a car to pass, but the other car’s left tires were also hugging the center line, as it came around the sharp right turn.

The blinding lights from the high beams temporarily blinded Sara, as it headed directly towards her car. Terror-stricken, seeing a car sitting in the middle of the road, the other driver panicked and overcompensated with a sharp left turn, heading for the dark abyss, off the road, and over the cliff.

The little girl in the back seat with long straight black hair, eyes wide open, as if frozen in fear, stared at Sara when the headlights flooded the side of the car, as it lurched towards its destiny. She could see the brake lights applied, as the other driver attempted to stop its momentum, but it was too late, as it disappeared out of sight, falling over the cliff. With the window still cracked open, an eerie silence filled the car, then a whistling breeze swirled around Sara’s head, evolving into distant screams and cries for help, from a woman and a small girl, then becoming fainter and fainter. The distant sound of a horrific crash echoed from the canyon where the car disappeared, and then a faint glow of orange and yellow, flickered in the darkness, before slowly fading, and dying out. Sara started screaming!

Melanie! Sitting up abruptly in bed, covered in sweat next to her husband, who almost fell out of the bed hearing her shrill blood-curdling scream. As Dustin was rubbing his eyes, reaching for the end table lamp, and before he could ask what’s wrong, Sara had leaped out of bed, running down the hallway to their little girl’s room.

When she opened the door, flooding Melanie’s bed with the light from the hallway, she was sound asleep on her back, her covers pulled up around her neck, and in her arms she was of course holding Cheetah, a stuffed monkey that’s never far away.

Every child has that one item, that precious thing they adhere like glue, and it’s forever close. Cheetah was a birthday gift from Tasha last year, her very first friend, who lived down at the end of the cul-de-sac, with her little brother, Ricky and their parents. Like most kids, her childhood friends were products of the friends and relatives of her parents, and Tasha lived a few houses away, so she was invited to Melanie’s 6th birthday party, last year. When Sara crawled back into bed, she laughed to herself, thinking when she opened the door to Melanie’s room, that damn ugly monkey scared the hell out of her. She told Dustin, who was laying on his side still half asleep when she came back to the bedroom, she had a bad dream, and just wanted to check on Melanie. After she kissed his forehead, he rolled over, turned off the table lamp, and went back to sleep. He had a big day starting early in the morning.

After a few minutes on her back, taking a couple deep breaths, Sara rolled over on her left side, where she usually falls to sleep fairly quickly… and she did. The clock on her side of the bed showed 3:30am.

Back in Melanie’s room, the moonlight coming through the drawn blinds, enveloped most of her bed, illuminating the outline of her body, lying on her back holding onto Cheetah, not stirring, and sound asleep. But in her dream, she’s riding in the back seat of mommy’s car, watching the stars in the sky whizzing by. It’s a clear night, and her mommy is singing a children’s song with her from the radio, and is smiling in the rearview mirror back at her. As the car started turning right around the corner, Melanie almost fell over on her left side in the seat, then suddenly the car lurched to the left, as her mommy started screaming. Looking up towards the window, she saw the bright headlights, flooding the interior of the car. When she was able to sit up again, she looked out of the window, seeing the bright headlights coming towards her, and then a quick glimpse of a face. The face of a woman. Then she screamed, along with her mommy who was in the front seat, as the car drove over the cliff, crashing into the rocks below. Melanie started screaming, screaming inside her head. She was still dreaming! Sara couldn’t hear her daughter screaming, as she fell back to sleep in her bedroom down the hall, after having such a horrific nightmare, herself. Nobody else heard Melanie screaming either. It was a dream! The house was quiet the rest of the night.

Mommy!… Mommy, Melanie yelled from her room! It was 7:10am. Sara had left the door ajar last night, after checking on her, so when she yelled for her, it immediately woke her up and she ran down the hallway.

When she pushed the door wider, Melanie was standing in front of her closet with her back to her, staring at the closed closet doors, holding Cheetah tightly to her chest.

What’s wrong, honey, she asked, walking up to her, kneeling, and putting her arm around her waist?

Mommy, there’s something in my closet, she answered softly, pointing at the doors! At first glance, Sara thought she saw movement out of the corner of her eye, like a shadow, but it must have been a reflection of the car she heard driving by the house. Regardless of the source, it still left goose bumps up and down Sara’s arms, as she slowly opened the double closet doors.

Nothing! The morning sunlight filled the closet where Melanie’s dresses and tops hung, with her shoes all lined up neatly in a row, next to each other on the floor, underneath the clothes on the hangers. There was a pile of stuffed animals and dolls on the left side of the closet, and her roller skates on the other side. Suddenly, a doll fell to the floor as Sara turned to her daughter, making them both jump. Melanie put her hand to her mouth, and then started giggling at her mommy, for being afraid of a doll. When Sara had jerked the door open, the movement of air obviously jostled the pile of toys, dislodging the doll, letting it fall on the floor.

Well, there you go Mel! Sara giggled, standing upright, holding the doll in one hand, and patting the Melanie’s shoulder with the other one. I think she’s jealous, and wants you to play with her for a while and give Cheetah a rest!

Oh mommy, Cheetah’s not tired, she responded, hugging and kissing him. Stuffed animals don’t get tired silly, rolling her eyes, looking up at mommy.

C’mon, let’s go eat breakfast, Sara replied, placing the doll in Melanie’s bed on her pillow.

When Melanie walked into the kitchen holding Cheetah, she sat down at the table. Sara reached under the cabinet next to the stove, and pulled out a skillet. Dustin had already left for work. He had acquired a huge contract, developing landscaping for a newly built mansion, in an expensive gated community and won the bid, if he agreed to a completion date that all the other contractor bids wouldn’t commit to. Seven years ago, she and Dustin were married, and he started his own landscaping business, and this was the break he needed. They had been struggling over the last few years, when most of his jobs involved residential mowing, and some landscaping projects, but this could be a huge break, if he completed the job on time. Word of mouth is the key in this business, and he wanted the referrals, in high end living communities. Rather than living week to week, he wanted to establish a competitive business, in a state saturated with landscaping businesses, and be successful for him and his family. When Melanie was born, it wasn’t really planned, so budgeting was crucial, and the process of starting a new business became a huge priority. He was putting in sixty to eighty hours per week, seven days a week, and didn’t spend a large amount of time during Melanie’s early years, so it was usually she and her mommy who spent most of the time together.

Mommy? Melanie asked, in between bites of scrambled eggs and bacon. Why do we have dreams?

Did you have a dream last night, Sara asked, remembering the horrific dream she had in the middle of the night, before going to check on her? I had one too! It’s just our thoughts running all together when we’re sleeping, I guess! Did you have a good dream?

I guess so, but it was weird. I was in my booster seat in the back seat, and you were singing a song and driving down the road, she answered, taking another bite. We were laughing and then I felt like I was falling. It scared me, and I woke up screaming for you!

Dreams are funny that way honey, Sara responded. They really don’t mean anything, she said. Besides, when you wake up they’re all gone, right?

I guess so mommy, but it seemed so real! And a woman was there too. Staring at me, before I started screaming. Sara with a shocked look in her face, glanced over at Melanie, remembering in her dream, seeing the little girl in the car, as it went over the cliff, but that little girl had long straight black hair. Melanie’s hair is cut short, and she’s a brunette, like hers. Coincidence, she thought! Shaking her head, chuckling at even having such a ludicrous idea, she put scrambled eggs and bacon into a plate for herself, and sat down with Melanie to eat breakfast, erasing their dreams out of her head.

Since it’s just you and me today, and it’s Saturday, do you want to go to the petting zoo? They have some newborn baby goats, looking at Melanie’s eyes widen, with a big smile on her face, then nodding her head quickly. You finish your breakfast, go brush your teeth, and pick out a top and pants to wear. Also, grab a jacket! It’s a little chilly today. I’ll clean up the dishes. Deal? Before she finished telling her, Melanie quickly ate the rest of her bacon, and was running out of the kitchen, and up the stairs to her room. Before she picked out an outfit to wear to the zoo, she threw Cheetah on the bed. The doll Sara had laid on her bed, on the pillow before they went downstairs for breakfast, wasn’t there anymore. It wasn’t anywhere!

It was gone, as if it never existed. She remembered she had to brush her teeth, so she went into the bathroom, and after brushing her teeth, she started brushing her hair, watching herself in the mirror. Behind her, on the counter next to the bathtub, she saw Cheetah’s reflection, staring back at her propped up against the wall.

Cheetah! Where did you come from? Startled by seeing him there, because she knew she threw him on the bed. Melanie’s always had a vivid imagination, inventing scenarios and games, when she played by herself with her dolls and stuffed animals. Being six years old, isn’t it a kid’s prerogative to live a life in fantasies and make believe? Besides, it’s healthy and beneficial. It was a part of growing up! Grabbing Cheetah off of the counter, she strutted into her room, and put him on her bed on her pillow, while she changed clothes.

Now you stay here, and I’ll be back later, she scolded him, pointing and shaking her tiny finger at him. Goofy monkey, she said, rolling her eyes and shutting the bedroom door, before running downstairs.

Cheetah did stay there, lying on his back, wearing bib overalls and farmer work boots, with his hands stretched out, and if you didn’t know better, you would think he was staring at the ceiling. He didn’t turn his head, as the right side of the closet door creaked, and then slowly opened. A shadow of a child’s head could be seen on the bedroom floor, as if peering out of the closet. Then the closet door slammed shut, and it was the same as when Melanie left her bedroom, and shut the door behind her. Quiet! And Cheetah, the stuffed monkey stayed right there, lying on his back, as he was told, knowing she’d be back later.

As they pulled into the parking lot of the Central Florida zoo, outside of Sanford, Melanie pointed at the small train going down the tracks, kids with their parents laughing and waving to people as the engineer blew the whistle, crossing the driveway. Sara knew that was one thing she had promised Melanie last time when they were going to ride the train, but it had started raining.

Mommy, can we please ride the train this time, she pleaded? You promised!

I remember honey, she acknowledged, looking up and smiling in the rearview mirror at her in the back seat, as she turned the car off. We’ll ride the train before we leave today, I promise! Melanie unbuckled her seat belt, leaning over the front seat, sticking out her little finger.

Pinky promise, she replied, as Sara hooked Melanie’s finger with her’s, sealing the pledge.

The zoo wasn’t that busy when they got there, which was really nice when you didn’t have to wait in line to feed the animals in the petting zoo. They always stopped by the gift shop first, to say hi to the nice elderly lady at the entrance by the door, and she also sold the various bags of food to feed the animals. She seemed extremely old, with wrinkles covering her face, and if it’s true that wrinkles are the map of our life, she’s lived a very long life. She had a strong Italian accent, and everyone knew her as Ms. Amici, but she told the kids to call her Lia.

Melanie thought she was like the witch of the North from the ‘Wizard of Oz’, the good witch, and she always ran over to give her a hug, after she’d come around from the counter, but today she didn’t see them when they walked in the door.

She was helping another customer, showing them how to feed the animals in the pens.

Lia! Lia! Melanie yelled, running over to her counter, with her Mom shaking her head and grinning to the other customers, a little embarrassed, when they all turned their heads towards them. As Sara followed Melanie towards the counter, she saw an expression in Ms. Amici’s face, that she’d never seen before, as she turned around to Melanie, leaning over to embrace her. As she was hugging her, Sara thought she heard Ms. Amici muttering in her native tongue, which sounded like a chant, or a prayer. Then she stood up, holding out her hand to me, smiling with her left hand on Melanie’s shoulder.

It’s always good to see you Ms. Amici, Sara smiled, shaking her hand. How have you been?

I am good Mrs. Collins, answering in her strong Italian accent, glancing down at the floor, and then behind them, as if she was looking for something she dropped.

Did you lose something, Sara asked, looking down at the floor? What was it?

As she turned, looking on both sides of her on the floor, Ms. Amici grabbed her forearm, which startled Sara as she turned around looking into her eyes, as she opened her mouth, shaking a finger towards her.

Guarda per l’ombra. Sta arrivando, Ms. Amici’s voice, sounded like a warning! At that instant, one of the other shop employee’s called for her to help another customer, who had questions about the Llama’s.

As she turned to walk over to help the other customer, she looked back at Sara and Melanie, and in a quiet voice, as if not wanting to be heard by someone else, she whispered, cupping her mouth with her hand.

Watch for the shadow, then looking down at the floor, from side to side again, It’s coming!

Mommy, Lia didn’t help us pick out the right food today, Melanie, sounding upset, tugging on Sara’s hand. What did she say to you? I couldn’t hear.

Something about the zoo getting a new animal. It’s coming soon, she responded involuntarily, but wondering what the hell did Ms. Amici mean by that? Poor lady, she must be starting to lose it a little, but she seemed so alert and convinced in what she said. She felt Melanie pulling her towards the rack where the food was sold to feed the animals, so they bought a couple bags, and headed to the petting zoo. After walking around the park for hours, looking at the various animal exhibits, Sara glanced at her watch, and the zoo was closing in about an hour. All it took was for Sara telling Melanie they should probably think about riding the train before the zoo closed, and she was ready to go. The exchange between them and Ms. Amici, was already forgotten by Sara, as they boarded the train, sitting together clear in the back, with one empty seat behind them, as the whistle blew, and the tiny train started chugging down the track. It was a fairly long train ride, winding between exhibits and around the entire park, even going over a ravine on a narrow bridge. Melanie loved trains, and they both giggled and laughed, pointing at the different animals watching them, as they rode by them.

The sun was starting to go down, and as they were headed back to the station, the train cast a long shadow on the ground, and the people on the train also cast a long shadow.

Mommy! Look how long my arms are in my shadow, waiving her arms, as Sara raised her arms too, and started waving along with her. Then they both burst out laughing. The small child sitting behind them had its arms up waving too, but then Sara remembered, there was nobody sitting behind them when they left the station. She turned around, and she was right. Nobody! Quickly, she looked at their shadows, and there was only her and Melanie’s shadow. Rubbing both her eyes, she began laughing softly to herself. Thanks Ms. Amici, now you got me seeing things, she whispered to herself! As the train whistle blew, signifying the end of the line, it started slowing down, rolling by a small playground, with a swing hanging from a tree branch. Everybody on the train gathered their bags, purses, and balloons, facing towards the right where you get off at the train station, and head for the parking lot. Nobody was watching, or noticed the swing behind them in the playground, hanging from the branch of a large tree, with a slight breeze making it swing, and the long shadow of a child, could be seen sitting on the swing.

If someone had, they would have also noticed that the swing was empty, but the shadow of a little girl, was sitting in the shadow of the swing on the ground, as it swayed in the breeze. As the car left the parking lot with Sara and Melanie, laughing and reminiscing about the fun they had at the zoo, the shadow of the little girl on the swing gradually faded away, leaving the shadow of the swing, swaying in the breeze, by itself.

II

Alligator Elevator

As they pulled into the driveway, waiting for the garage door to open, they heard honking. Dustin had just pulled up in his pick-up truck in the front of the house, waving at them as they pulled into the garage.

Well, how was the zoo today? You girls have fun, even without me, he asked? Chuckling as he walked up to the car.

Oh daddy, you’re so funny. We had a blast! There was hardly anybody else there, and I fed every animal in the petting zoo, talking real fast, still excited. Going to my room, she yelled, starting to run into the house!

Are you forgetting something? Dustin stood there, with his arms folded, looking angry, winking at Sara.

Oh, I’m sorry daddy, she responded, running and jumping into his arms, hugging and kissing him. Love you, she yelled, jumping back down, and running into the house! Dustin with a puzzled look in his face, looked at Sara, as he pointed his thumb towards Melanie, like he was hitchhiking.

Cheetah, Sara answered. No sooner than we pulled out of the parking lot, she couldn’t wait to get home, to tell Cheetah all about it!

They both laughed, then Sara gave Dustin a quick kiss, as they walked towards the door to the house, shutting the garage door. Before they walked into the house, Melanie was already in her room, lying on her side in bed next to Cheetah, still laying on his back, propped up on the pillow, as she told him everything they did at the zoo. As they walked by the stairway towards the kitchen, they could hear Melanie, apparently scolding Cheetah.

Now you stay there Cheetah! Don’t go anywhere! I’m playing with my new friend. Melanie disciplined him assertively, Mommie told me to let you rest anyway!

What’s that about, Sara, Dustin whispered, slightly chuckling, and turning towards her?

It’s a long story! Come into the kitchen while I start dinner, and I’ll fill you in, she smiled.

She told him about her nightmare, and opening Melanie’s door, finding her standing in front of the closet, saying there was something in there. And how a stupid doll, falling on the floor in the closet, almost gave her a heart attack. They both laughed! She told him, that’s when she made a joke out of it by telling Melanie the doll that fell on the floor, wants to play, too.

And that’s when she told her that Cheetah needed a rest. That’s when Dustin said that he needed a rest too, and was going upstairs to shower, and if there’s anything else to tell him later, he’ll be all ears.

As he left the kitchen, laughing at his own corny joke, Sara turned to preset the oven, thinking about the strange conversation with Ms. Amici, and her eerie warning. Poor thing, she thought! I hope she’s not losing it. Sara didn’t think about the alternative. What if Ms. Amici isn’t losing it? And she knows that something’s coming! She decided to not tell Dustin about her, until Melanie was in bed. She didn’t want to upset Melanie, talking about her friend Lia. Besides, she knew that she would fill her daddy in with everything they did at the zoo, and talk non-stop until he tucks her in bed, she closes her big green eyes, and falls asleep. When they both told Melanie about daddy’s new job and that he would be gone a lot working, she made him promise that he would tuck her in bed every night, until he doesn’t have to work so much. They made a pinky promise, too!

Sound like you and your mommy had a perfect day, Dustin said, sitting on the edge of the bed next to Melanie, who was under her covers, with Cheetah in her arms. I wish I could’ve have been there.

We had a blast! Melanie responded, as she started yawning. When will you not be working so much, daddy?

It’ll be a little longer honey. Then I promise that we’ll do a lot together. Cross my heart, he answered, sitting up, and making a cross over his heart with a finger! Mommy told me that you thought there was something in your closet.

Mommy was funny, she giggled. She opened the closet, and one of my dolls fell on the floor. She jumped, and we both laughed, yawning again.

Why don’t you go to sleep, and I’ll see you in the morning, he said, leaning over to shut the lamp off.

Daddy, can I sleep with the light on, she asked?

Of course you can, Dustin said, leaning over and kissing her forehead. Good night honey. Love you!

I love you too, daddy, she whispered, closing her eyes, hugging Cheetah, as Dustin quietly walked out of the room, as the closet door slowly creaked opened a few inches.

The night lamp on the end table next to Melanie’s bed, was the only light source in the room. The closet door slowly opened, as a shadow of a little head sticking outside of the closet, and two thin arms with tiny hands and slender fingers, seemed to stretch out towards the bed where Melanie slept soundly.

Still clutching Cheetah in her arms, the shadow of the hands with slender fingers appeared on the side of the bed, climbing up the bed, and then on top of the bed, becoming longer under the soft light from the night lamp, as they seemed to reach where Melanie lay, under her covers, in the middle of the bed. She flinched in her sleep, then her face winced, as the shadow of a little girl almost completely covered her body as it lay next to her.

The morning sun slowly filtered towards the bed, through the blinds, and after several minutes it crept up the side of the bed, and softly painted the bed cover in the morning sunshine, where Melanie still lay as she did before she fell to sleep. Creeping towards the shadow, still lying next to her, it began to dissipate and finally disappear, as if it was never there. At that exact moment, Melanie’s eyes slowly opened, as the sun’s ray’s covered her face. She yawned, rubbing her eyes, squinting as the sun briefly blinded her. Sitting up, still holding Cheetah, she pulled the covers aside and jumped out of bed. Cheetah fell to the floor as she went into the bathroom to pee. As she sat on the potty, she began to smell pancakes, her favorite breakfast, and quickly finished, flushing the stool, and running out of her room, and towards the kitchen. Dad was sitting at the table, which made her really excited, because that meant it’s Sunday, when he doesn’t have to go to work. Running and jumping into his lap, she gave him a big kiss and hug, before slipping down on the floor and sitting in her chair.

Good morning honey, her mommy said, as she turned to pile a couple pancakes on her plate!

Morning mommy! She answered, as she started pouring syrup all over her pancakes, and it filled the entire bottom of her plate.

Slow down on the syrup girl, her daddy chuckled, turning the syrup bottle upright, in her tiny hands. You got enough for both of us, silly! He laughed at her, then looked around. Where’s Cheetah this morning? Had he already eaten breakfast," he asked, winking at Sara?

Oh daddy, she giggled, rolling her eyes. He doesn’t eat! He’s not real.

But you always have him with you. You guys have a fight, he chuckled again?

He’s still sleeping, I guess, she answered, shrugging her shoulders, as she ate a huge bite of pancakes. Besides, I have a new best friend, she replied, as she chewed her bite!

Oh….I see, Sara responded, as she sat down at the table, after filling her plate, so you’re playing with another one of your dolls, or stuffed animals now?

Oh mommy, she sighed. I have a real friend now! Her name is Ashley, and she’s my age!

Ashley, huh? And where did you meet her? Was she on one of your TV shows, Sara asked?

No! She was in my closet, answering, then taking a drink of milk. Putting her glass down, she looked at her mommy. Remember when I told you something was in my closet?

Oh yeah! When the doll fell off your pile of toys and scared us, she laughed, tapping on Melanie’s arm, nodding her head. So that was Ashley in your closet?

Yep! She told me last night, when she slept next to me in bed, she nodded, taking another bite. After chewing and swallowing it, she continued, She told me I don’t need to play with my toys anymore, because she was going to be my best friend, forever!

Sara glanced over at Dustin, who had stopped eating, and was standing up to put his plate in the sink. He shrugged his shoulders as he walked behind Melanie, who was finishing her pancakes and milk. The way Melanie had stated that Ashley told her she didn’t need any of her toys anymore, sent a chill up Sara’s arms. It almost sounded like an ultimatum, or weirdly like a warning, but she quickly put that thought out of her head.

So Melanie since I’m not working today, what would you like to do, her daddy asked, standing behind her, rubbing her shoulders?

Daddy? Would you be mad if I wanted to play with Ashley today, She smiled, looking straight up at him, with a milk mustache, as he looked down at her? I mean, she did just get here, and you guys always tell me, to be nice to new people.

Well, I can’t argue with you there honey! That’s being very grown-up, he answered, kissing her forehead. Tell you what! I’ll be out in the garage cleaning, and if you want to, come and get me later, and we’ll do something. That new ice cream store opened this weekend, and you love ice cream. Deal?

Thanks daddy. Love you, she answered, sliding out of her chair, putting her plate in the sink, before running out of the kitchen!

The late afternoon sun almost blinded Dustin, as he was re-arranging the shelves in the garage, as its brightness reflected in the circular saw blade, hanging on the wall. Glancing at the clock above the work bench, he noticed that it was almost 5:30pm, so he went over to the sink and washed his hands. As he wiped his hands with a shop towel, he realized that he hasn’t seen Melanie since this morning at breakfast. Walking into the kitchen, shutting off the garage light, he turned to Sara, who was just starting dinner.

Have you seen Melanie, he asked? I figured she would get tired of playing in her room, and would want to go get some ice cream at that new store, The Creamery.

Actually, I haven’t seen her all day, either. I’ve been doing housework and laundry, most of the day, Sara answered. She probably fell asleep in her room.

Ok, I’ll go see what she’s been up to with her new best friend, all day, he chuckled, going to her room. As he got to the top of the stairs, he could hear Melanie’s voice, but then, he stopped. He could swear he could hear another voice. The voice of another little girl!

The door was shut, and as he turned the doorknob, the voices stopped, and he could hear whispering, then shuffling. Dustin opened the door slowly, so he wouldn’t scare Melanie, and what he glimpsed out of the corner of his eye, gave him goose bumps up and down his arms, and on the back of his neck.

She was sitting at her tiny table, with her antique porcelain tea set she got from her Grandma, for her birthday last year. She had tea cups sitting on plates for two, and she was sitting on one of the chairs, pouring imaginary tea, into her imaginary friend’s tea cup. Adjacent to her, was another chair, an empty chair, but what made Dustin jump, was the shadow on the floor, of a little girl sitting in the empty chair. And then it was gone! She just disappeared.

Ahh! Oh, daddy, you scared me! Melanie squealed, dropping her tea pot as it bounced off the edge of the table, breaking into multiple pieces, shattering on the floor.

I’m so sorry honey! I didn’t mean to scare you, he apologized, looking in her eyes, and walking towards the table. Quickly, he glanced at the other chair, as if he was going to see someone sitting on it, then chuckled to himself, and turned to Melanie. He then noticed the antique tea pot, was literally shattered beyond repair, all over the floor. When his Mom gave that tea set to Melanie last year for her sixth birthday, she was so excited, because she always loved visiting Grandma’s house, and she would always use her antique porcelain dishes and cups, whenever we ate dinner at her house. Melanie thought it was like being in the Disney movie, ‘Beauty and the Beast’, and she wanted her own tea set, someday. And when she opened her present from Grandma, seeing her own antique porcelain tea set, you’d think she won the lottery. She’s always been so careful with it, having a special shelf made to display it on, with a lifting, glass, door, and she always keeps it clean and polished. And is always careful with it!

Oh no, honey! I’m really sorry, Dustin said sincerely, kneeling down on one knee, picking through the broken shards of porcelain. Don’t worry, I’ll buy you another one. I know how much you love your tea set. Don’t cry! I’ll get you another one, just like it. Promise!

Oh, daddy! It’s alright. No big deal, she stood up, stepping on a piece of the handle, as it crumbled under her shoe. It’s just a tea pot! Want me to go get the broom and the dust pan?

I-I’ll go get it, Dustin visibly stunned by her reaction, scooting all the pieces in a pile with his hands. Just go ahead and pick up your room, and put your tea set back on the shelf, and wash your hands for dinner. Standing up, to go get a broom and dust pan, watching his little girl, seemingly unaffected at all, about her favorite birthday gift, cleaning her room, and humming a tune he’s never heard before.

As he walked out of her room, she began to lightly sing the tune.

There’s an alligator in the elevator. I can’t believe what I see, she giggles, and starts humming the bubbly, rapid medley again, picking up her room, and washing her hands.

While Dustin was sweeping up the larger pieces of broken porcelain into the dust pan, he used the dust buster to suck up any remaining tiny pieces of ceramic, and dust from the floor. As he started walking out of her bedroom, he thought he heard a faint medley, from the other side of her room, by the closet, but then heard Melanie singing that same medley, she was humming earlier, running down the stairs. Shaking his head, reminded of the times Sara would ask him if he needs to get his hearing checked, when he forgot to get something else at the store, that wasn’t originally on the list, and he’d forget to add it.

Maybe she was on to something, he chuckled to himself, as he shut the bedroom door. The faint medley started getting a little louder, becoming a bubbly, rapid medley, and then, the children’s song tune sounding muffled through the closet doors, until the lyrics could be heard clearly;

There’s an alligator in the elevator.

I can’t believe what I see.

There’s an alligator in the elevator,

and it’s making eyes at me.

Alligator (clap clap) please push (clap clap)

Number (clap clap) two.

I’m going up to the second floor.

Gee, I’d like to make friends with you.

As quickly as it grew louder, it started fading slowly away as the chorus started again, then becoming fainter and fainter, as if the volume was slowly being turned down, until it was quiet again, in Melanie’s room. Cheetah was still lying on his back, wearing bib overalls and farmer work boots, with his hands stretched out by his side, in the middle of the bed, with his head on a pillow, looking up at the ceiling. While Dustin was walking down the stairs, he swore he heard the distant sound of a door clicking shut, from the other side of Melanie’s bedroom door, but shaking his head, he figured the sound must be from somewhere else, like hearing Melanie singing that song, running downstairs. Then he realized! He had heard that song somewhere before, but he couldn’t place where, or when it was. Then, it was as if a light bulb turned on in his head.

Oh wait, now I remember, thinking to himself, it’s an old popular children’s song, from many years ago! She obviously heard it on TV, or on one of her kids websites, we let her play once and a while on. As he turned at the bottom of the steps, heading towards the kitchen, he could hear her still singing that song.

… And it’s making eyes at me! Melanie finished her song, and was taking a bow, as Sara started clapping. Then Melanie clapped her hands, giggling, running into Sara’s arms for a hug.

Didn’t know we had a professional singer in the family! Dustin laughed, walking into the kitchen applauding. Great job Mel! How long did it take you to learn that song? Haven’t heard that tune in years.

You know, Sara said, looking down at Melanie, still in her arms. That’s actually a song my Aunt Eva used to sing to me, when I was a little girl! Where did you hear it? On one of your kids shows?

Ashley taught it to me! The look in Melanie’s face, looking up at her Mom, made the hairs on Sara’s arms raise up. This wasn’t the look she’d always see in her daughters face, when she’s playing with her dolls or toys, and playing make-believe. She was serious!

Oh yeah, now I remember! That’s your new friend Ashley, you told us about, Dustin chuckled. The friend who took you away from me, all day today, winking at Sara, who still had a pale, dazed look in her eyes.

Daddy, Ashley’s my best friend, forever! Again, that seriousness in her voice, that gave Sara another cold feeling across her arms.! That’s her favorite song! It’s mine too, now! She proudly walked over to the table, and turned, could I eat my grilled cheese in my room and play? I promise I won’t make a mess!

That’s fine Mel, Dustin nodded, handing her a paper towel. Oh, does Ashley want a grilled cheese too, he asked, then snickered?

No, that’s ok daddy! She told me she doesn’t eat anymore, but she will eat again, soon, she answered, completely serious, grabbing the paper towel and her plate, running up the stairs, yelling. Good night mommy! Good night daddy! Love you!

She started humming her new favorite song, as she ran through the house, towards the stairway, then she was singing the whole song from the beginning, as she ran upstairs into her bedroom, and shut the door behind her.

After she left the kitchen, Sara sat at the table, pointing at the chair across from her, asking Dustin to sit down. She wanted to talk to him about the day, and the odd behavior of Ms. Amici, when she saw them walking into the gift shop in the zoo, to buy food for the petting zoo.

He could tell that she was deeply troubled by something, so he grabbed himself a beer out of the refrigerator, and sat down. She started from the dreams she and Melanie had, and finding her standing in front of her closet, pointing, and saying something was in her closet, to the stark warning, she received from Ms. Amici, about watching for the shadow, telling her it was coming. That’s when Dustin’s face turned pale, remembering the shadow of the child, sitting on the chair, on the floor, at the tiny table with Melanie, in her room.

III

Room for One

Well, say something! Sara spoke up when she finished, with Dustin sitting across from her wringing his hands together, staring down at the table. As crazy as all this sounds, she continued, I’m a little freaked out! I mean, I know Melanie! Realizing how that sounded, she quickly retracted what she said. I’m not implying you don’t know your own daughter honey, but I see her every day, playing, and pretending, and just being a normal little girl growing up. There’s something different going on, and I’m a little nervous.., her voice cracked, unable to continue.

Tell me again, exactly what this Ms. Amici said, Dustin asked, with a serious, disturbed tone in his voice, and on his face. I-I-saw a shadow today! Within the last hour, in Melanie’s room. He then told her about the teapot from her grandmother, being broken, and how she could care less.

As they sat together in the kitchen, discussing their concerns, and trying to make sense of what this all means, Melanie was in her room, lying on her bed with her hands behind her head, and if you didn’t look closely at her shadow reflected from the end table lamp, you’d think she was talking to herself. As she changed position, propping herself up on her pillow, a darker shadow remained on its back, with its hands still behind its head, and her shadow, although visible and propped up on her pillow, had grown fainter, as if it was gradually fading away.

If you placed an ear outside of her bedroom door right now, you’d hear a faint conversation between two little girls, both of them giggling, and sharing stories. Especially Ashley!

You don’t need your dolls and toys anymore. They’re just toys, she whispered to Melanie! Best friends forever! Pinky promise! The shadow, laying on its back next to Melanie, raised its pinky finger, as Melanie offers her pinky promise down on the bed, with the shadow’s.

The next morning, Dustin left really early before sunrise, silently walking through the house, so as not to wake Sara or Melanie. He was almost to the site of the biggest project he’s ever taken on, as the sun was making its entrance over the landscape, throwing the shadows of everything it touches on the ground, as it does every day.

The gated community had over five hundred residents, and the contract he acquired involved a complete renovation of all the common ground. It involved twenty new flower beddings, restructuring and designing new landscape he had already been approved on, by the HOA board. This was his dream project, his exposure in the commercial market he was convinced would propel his business into his ultimate goal, to be highly successful. As he stood beside his truck with the blueprints laid out on the hood, his thoughts returned to last night, when he and Sara decided to go see Ms. Amici together, for the answers they hope can help them understand what’s going on with their little girl, if anything. Hearing the sound of a truck, he looked up and saw his work crew pulling into the area, with an end loader on a trailer behind them, and other lawn equipment.

He had to concentrate on today, and waving at his employee’s climbing out of the extended crew cab, the first day of his commercial project begins.

After Dustin quietly shut the front door, the last sound was the beeping of the alarm system, as he reset it. It was still pitch black throughout the house, except for the few night lights plugged into various outlets. One was halfway up the stairs, and another one between Sara and Dustin’s bedroom and Melanie’s room. Suddenly, the upstairs hallway and the staircase flickered in an eerie glow, as if someone was turning a light switch on and off rapidly, then both night lights glowed bright before dimming down to their normal radiance. At the same time, muffled mumbling permeated from Sara’s closed bedroom door, and then faint sobbing. Her dream started exactly like the other night, and continued, as if watching the same movie again. Only this time, when the car came around the corner, and she could see the little girl in the back seat with long straight black hair, she wasn’t alone. There was another little girl with short brunette hair, sitting next to her staring back at Sara, eyes wide open, as if frozen in fear. As the car disappeared, falling over the cliff, she could hear the distant screams and cries for help, from a woman and two small girls, but then she heard the clear voice of one of the girls whispering in her ear, as if she was in bed next to her, she’s with me now. She’s mine!

Oh my God, she screamed, sitting upright in bed, covered in sweat. Quickly glancing at the clock, realizing that Dustin had already left the house, she jumped out of bed, running down the hall. It was 5:45am. She opened the door, and with the light from the hallway night light, she could see that Melanie’s bed was empty.

Panicking, she flicked on the overhead light, and noticed that one of the closet doors was ajar. When she opened both doors, Melanie was sound asleep on her side lying with a pillow. As she leaned over, attempting to pick her up, she started screaming in her sleep, Why did you kill us, mommy?

Sara had never been so afraid in her entire life, and she could hardly stop shaking as she slowly picked up her daughter to put her back in bed. Melanie stirred a little as she was being lifted out of the closet, but never displayed any sign of waking up as she was laid down on her bed, and the covers were pulled up around her neck. Sara looked around for Cheetah to place in her arms, but couldn’t see him anywhere in the room. Leaning over, and lightly kissing Melanie on her forehead, she brushed her hair from her eyes, staring down at her beautiful little girl, and then lifted the edge of the bedspread, looking under her bed. No Cheetah!

Hearing mumbling from above, she slowly peered over the edge of the bed, nearly fearful of what she might see, but Melanie had rolled over on her left side, and taking a deep breath, she became still. Breathing a sigh of relief, she tiptoed towards the door, and as she grasped the doorknob, slowly turning it, she heard the closet door slightly creak open, then stop. Rushing over to the closet, she flung both doors open, expecting to see something, but it was empty, except for the pile of dolls and stuffed animals on the left side, which seemed smaller. Quietly, she closed both closet doors, and turned, walking to the open bedroom door.

She’s mine! The clear, loud, deep voice of a little girl, sent a cold chill through her entire body, from behind her. Turning from the waist, her eyes widened as Melanie sat up in bed, with the light from the hallway, covering her torso with Sara’s shadow. As Sara stepped aside, the light showed a little girl, with long black hair, pointing a finger at her. You’re not needed anymore!

Sara threw the bed covers off of her as she lay covered in sweat, shaking uncontrollably, realizing she had a dream within a dream. Turning on her side, and bringing her legs up together in a fetal position, she began to whimper out loud, with her fist in her mouth, to muffle her sobbing. After a few minutes, she sat up, grabbed some tissue, and blowing her nose, she glimpsed at the clock on her nightstand. It was 5:45am!

Standing up, with that eerie feeling of déjà vu, she ran to Melanie’s room, and slowly opened the door as the hallway light covered her bed, showing her lying still on her side, fast asleep. Walking up to the side of her bed, she leaned over, staring at her little girl’s beautiful, innocent face, kissed her forehead, and quickly lifted the bedspread, looking under the bed. No Cheetah! Where is that stuffed monkey, she thought to herself? Almost afraid to walk towards the door, she turned the doorknob. No sound, as she stopped and turned her head, listening for any noise coming from the closet. Leaving the door ajar, she went downstairs to make a cup of coffee. There was no way she wanted to even attempt to go back to sleep, especially after that dream. As the coffee was brewing, and Sara was sitting on the chair at the table, she could see the faint, dim light of the sun, readying its ascent across the sky for another day. In Melanie’s room, she stirred and rolled over on her other side, as she dreamed about being in the back seat of the car with Ashley, singing their favorite song.

Sara’s coffee was still steaming as she blew across the rim, before taking a sip, and that’s when she heard blood-curdling screams echoing throughout the house, coming from overhead. The hot coffee scalded her chin and tongue, as she jerked her head, and it drizzled down, leaving a coffee trail on her nightshirt.

Dropping her cup on the table, it splattered coffee all over, as she ran upstairs to Melanie’s bedroom. The door was already wide open, and both closet doors were open as far as they could be, against the doorstops mounted on the wall, as she ran to the bedside where Melanie was lying on her back, still asleep, tossing and turning.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Sara leaned over, putting her arm around her waist, and began stroking Melanie’s hair, on the side of her head.

Shhh! It’s ok. Mommy’s here, Sara whispered, trying to calm her down. You’re having a bad dream honey. It’s alright, continuing to stroke her head, as her eyes fluttered open!

Mommy, her eyes, full of tears. We were riding in a car, and the headlights blinded us, and then we were falling… She stopped, unable to finish as she started to hyperventilate.

It’s alright now. Take slow, deep breaths, Sara whispered, hugging her little girl as she started to relax, hugging her mommy back.

So where were we going in a car, Sara asked?

Mommy, you weren’t with me, she answered, sniffling, taking another deep breath. Ashley and I were riding in the back seat of a car, singing our favorite song! It was so scary, mommy! I don’t ever want to dream again.

Sara continued hugging and stroking Melanie’s hair, as she lay down, putting her head in mommy’s arm, while Sara just lay next to her holding her tight, like a lioness protecting her cub, staring at the open closet. Her mind went immediately to the discussion she and Dustin had the night before, and decided to call the gift shop at the zoo, to speak to Ms. Amici, when its doors open this morning. It wasn’t long with Sara holding her daughter, feeling her warmth, lying next to her, and closing her eyes, praying this whole nightmare was over, before she fell asleep.

The closet doors were still both wide open, against the doorstops, and on the left side of the closet, you could see the small pile of dolls and stuffed animals, slowly being warmed by the suns rays, as they filled the entire room. If you walked up to the closet, you would notice how well kept it is, with Melanie’s shoes all lined up on the floor underneath her dresses and tops on hangers. Only her roller skates were lying on the right side of the closet. Turning around, you’d see Sara asleep lying on her side next to Melanie, who was also lying on her side, facing you. Sara has her arm around her waist, holding her daughter tightly, and both are in a deep, deep sleep. Looking around the room, you can see her specially-made shelve with a glass door, on the left side of her room near the window, where her antique porcelain tea pot set is sitting inside, but the teapot is gone. Its shattered porcelain shards still lie in the garbage can in the upstairs bathroom’s garbage can, where Dustin threw them away. You can see her children’s desk and chair on the right side of the room, next to the bedroom door, which is now slowly closing, until a solid click can be heard as it closes, by itself. If you didn’t notice, Cheetah isn’t anywhere in the room, in the closet, or downstairs in the house. Not anywhere! Now, the closet doors are starting to slowly close simultaneously, until they click at exactly the same instant, sounding like one door closing. By itself! Then after a few seconds pass, the left closet door creaks open, a little bit.

It was almost 7:00pm, and Dustin was just going over the plans for the next day with his landscaping crew, as the sun started to go down. They had cleared most of the flower beddings, so the groundwork could begin in the morning, and the goal, weather pending, is to have that completed by the end of the week, which would keep them a little ahead of the schedule, he had promised the board.

They had all put in over twelve hours today, and the hard work showed, as they left the gated community in their trucks. The trailer tires with the end loader were chock-blocked, and it was chained down on the bed of the trailer. Dustin made a commitment to himself, when he won the closed bid for this project, that they wouldn’t leave any residue, soil, or vegetation on the roadways at the end of each day, and today made him a man of his word. As he turned onto the two-lane highway, his phone vibrated in his pocket, so he pulled off onto the shoulder and put the truck in park. It was Sara who had called him, and left him a voicemail.

Honey, it’s me! No need to call back, she hesitated, clearing her throat. I spoke with Lia, Ms. Amici, and she agreed to stop by this evening, after she takes a co-worker home after work. Should be about 8:30 or so. I had another dream. The same dream, only worse! I’m really frightened! See you when you get home. Love you!

He managed to focus on what he had to do the entire day, but after hearing Sara’s voice mail, his concerns went back to what the hell is going on, and how can this old woman, Ms. Amici, know anything about this shadow, or whatever the hell it is. His palms became sweaty as he turned onto his street, seeing an old, probably 74’ or 75’ Ford LTD, dirty white, with several dents all over the only side he could see, as he pulled into the driveway, parking next to it. Clicking the garage door opener hooked on his sun visor, he walked into the garage, tapping the wall control button, closing it, and opened the door which went into the kitchen. Hearing quiet voices as he opened the door, they stopped as he walked inside.

Sara was sitting