62

Caraline gripped the phone tightly. The ticking of the clock filled the sudden silence. However, Caraline's consciousness gradually returned. When it did, her eyes flew wide open.

"What did I say?!" Caraline screamed in a stifled voice. The cell phone she had been holding tightly was accidentally thrown. Fortunately, it landed on the rug under the bed.

Caraline suddenly backed up until her body hit the wall. Unexpectedly, the cell phone repeated Deric's voice message.

[Good night and thank you for today]

Caraline covered both ears. She also stomped the floor to get Deric out of her mind, then disappeared into dust. "Stop it!"

Caraline choked up when she heard the bell ring. She quickly checked outside on the small screen by the door. "Diego."

Caraline quickly tapped her palms together, letting out a long breath. Once ready, she opened the door, putting on a straight face as if nothing had happened.

"What happened?" asked Diego, "did I hear you suddenly scream?"

Caraline rotated her ey