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Suddenly feeling a level of tired I hadn’t felt since sleeping on park benches, Ithe plethora of stuffed ani up toward the pillows, I landed on my side The mattress and comforter were plush and soft, but the bed felt eo I was just a girl without a hoirl who lived in Logan’s Beach with the fa and a hohter to a senator, a ed

I was finally ho off into a heavy sleep I wondered why this place that was supposed to bein the middle of the ice, I take a hesitant step toward the shore, the first echoing crack of the ice underI have to take another step I have to s All I can do is stare in disbelief as the crack expands into ed snakes, they race in every direction, sending the thin foundation of ice, anddark waters

It’s so cold

I’ to drown

Deeper and deeper I sink into the dark water until two arrab theold wrist watch, the other rapped in a thick leather belt I try to grab onto both of them, but I can’t reach and they don’t reach into the water any deeper

It’s then I realize that in order to be saved, I can only chose one

I reach toward the belted ar lifted out froid air as I expected, the arm turns me around and pushes me down deeper and deeper until I have no choice but to inhale theif there really was a right choice, because I have a feeling that no matter which one I chose, they both would’ve pulled ht what I was hearing was still the ice cracking frorew louder and more impatient I openedfrom my

When I opened ht had turned off soht and I was encased in darkness that made my fear spike to epic proportions

And then I heard the distinct sound of the ly sliding open I froze, having no clue where thereto bring anyI could do was clutch my comforter to h the , one long leg after the other I spotted a snow globe on the desk and was about to rab it and launch it at the intruder when the shadow started toward my bed Then to my surprise as the shadow moved closer to the bed, my panic receded

There was only one person whose very presence could quiet er toward hiht in the back of my mind as I leapt out of bed But just as I was about to juht bea my visitor

Tanner

I stopped abruptly and when I realized I was still holding my arms open in the air, I lowered them and aardly heldhere?" I asked breathlessly

"I told you I was co to talk to you," Tanner answered "And who did you think I was?"

I shook my head and waved my hand dismissively "Oh, no one, you just surprised h the " I lied "Who’s with Sa my answer, but thankfully hehi looking Tanner in the eye

"I’m sorry that I surprised you And honestly, I didn’t even think about coh your front door instead of the , because unless I had Sammy this is just how I always cahtly He shook his head and moved over to the bed He shotup only a small portion of the corner of the bed, he wasn’t really sitting,that you don’t remember any of this" He pointed at himself and then me