Chapter 3

The sun was warming my skin, and it felt so good. I was sitting on the grass with my head held high, with my mother by my side. She giggled, getting my attention.

“What?” I asked, curious, looking at her. Her blonde hair was in a high ponytail, her features and blue eyes exposed. We were always told how much we looked alike.

“You really love the sun, don't you? You got that from me," she smiled sweetly.

I heard laughter and saw Elise—my younger sister running toward us. Her curly brown hair fell over her small shoulders, and she had a sparkle in her eyes that was unmatched.

“Mom! I have a sunflower! Look!” She opened her hands and showed me her new acquisition.

“It's beautiful, Elise! Where did you find it?” my mom asked, grabbing the flower.

“It was there,” Elise pointed behind us. I smiled widely, admiring my little sister; she was always so happy.

Suddenly, darkness began to flow around us. The sun disappeared, and a cold breeze brushed against my skin, sending shivers down my spine. I stood up, looking around desperately.

“Mom? Elise?” I called out, but they were no longer by my side. I felt a presence, a hot breath on the back of my neck. Fear paralyzed me for a moment.

“Anaís,” a rough voice said. I swallowed.

“No…” I whispered weakly, starting to run fast. I had to escape from him; I only knew that.

“Run, run, run.” He sounded amused; I could feel him right behind me no matter how fast I ran. My legs felt so heavy.

“No…” I repeated in a murmur.

“No, you can't escape from me, Anaís.”

“No…” I tripped and fell on my hands and knees. I felt a warm liquid beneath me. I lifted my hands and saw it was blood. Tears blurred my vision, and I began to shake uncontrollably.

“No…” I tried to wipe the blood with my shirt.

“Anaís”—his breath brushed my ear, and I turned around, but all I could see was an out-of-focus shadow.

“Get away from me!” I screamed.

“Come here, Anaís, come.”

“No,” I muttered, taking a step back until my feet touched something. I turned around and froze. My mother was on the ground, bruises on her arms and legs. Blood was pouring from the wound on her chest, and I covered my mouth with a shaking hand.

“No, mom…”

“Red looks beautiful on her, don't you think?”

“No…” A pair of cold hands rested on my shoulders.

“Anaís.”

“No!” I screamed, opening my eyes.

I blinked, trying to recognize where I was: my bed. I was in my bed. My breathing was ragged and labored; I could still feel the wetness of the tears on my cheeks.

“It was just a nightmare,” I whispered and sat up to hold my chest, trying to calm myself down. “Breathe, Anaís, breathe.”

The nightmares were getting worse every night. I wished I could remember the night of the murder, but maybe it was just as well that way; I wasn't ready to face those tormenting images. I got up, taking a deep breath. I looked at the clock on the bedside table: 5:45 a.m. I always woke up at the same time, and I wasn't able to go back to sleep.

I grabbed my towel and soap and left the room. The guard was sleeping in her chair. I couldn't blame her; she had been up all night watching sneaky girls, but I envied her because she could have such a deep, calm sleep. I passed her, trying to be as quiet as possible, and headed for the showers at the end of the long corridor. I grabbed the doorknob and was about to open it when I heard laughter coming from inside. Was someone there? I leaned against the door, pressing my ear to it.

“Enough! They're going to catch us!” said a girl's voice, and then more laughter sounded.

“The guard is sleeping; come here.” I froze.

That was a man's voice. There was a guy in the girls' wing? And he was in the shower, doing who knows what with that girl. I heard some strange sounds and soft moans next. I leaned back against the door. What was I going to do? I turned on my feet, determined to go back to my room, but then I saw the guard standing there, stretching her arms out.

“This is bad,” I thought, and before I knew what I was doing, I had opened the door to the showers and rushed inside quickly with my eyes closed. I leaned my back against the door.

“What the hell?” the male voice exclaimed. I stayed with my eyes closed; I didn't want to see what they were doing.

“I'm sorry.”

“Why are your eyes closed?” the girl asked. I opened them carefully and saw that they weren't naked as I expected; but the girl was blushing. She was a brunette with big dark eyes. Her hair was all messed up. I had definitely interrupted something.

“Who the hell is she?” the boy asked, stepping out of the shadows. He had a high-cheeked face, and his lips were red, I guess from making out with the girl. It was then that I noticed he was shirtless. I looked away, blushing.

“I don't know,” the girl replied, and she sounded annoyed.

“We have a problem,” I cleared my throat.

“Do we have any?” the girl asked, raising one of her eyebrows.

“Yes, the guard woke up.”

“What?” She turned pale and then looked at the boy. “I told you they were going to catch us.

I really didn't want to get caught; with that and what happened the night before, I would be a direct ticket to the second floor. The boy had an idea.

“I'm going to use the window to get out, and you two can get out of here as if you just took a shower.”