Shadow-Land by Heather Parsons (best books to read for teens .txt) 📕

"You know what, don't look for me at school because I will not be looking for you." He stated angrily and stomped off to his car. Her head snapped up and she starred at his retreating back. Opening the driver's side door and climbing in then slamming it shut. Slamming his foot on the gas petal and spinning the tires. Little pieces of gravel were spraying down on her. She tried to act fast by placing my hands in front of her face to shield them but she wasn't fast enough.

Now her tears were falling at a more rapid pace while she watched his car disappear through the front gates. Not once did he stop or even put his foot on the brake petal until he had to at the gate itself but soon he was gone again.

She slipped inside unnoticed and ran upstairs. Once in the bedroom she checked her face in the mirror. There was blood streaming down her face and knots were the pieces of gravel hit. Her tears soaked her face and mixed in with the blood. Quickly grabbing a towel, she started wiping away every piece of evidence that was visible.

She didn't know if anyone was still in the house but if they were she didn't want them seeing her like this. To many questions would be asked and she didn't have any answers to give.

Walking down the hallway and into the bathroom for more cleaning. When she closed the door, she heard strange noises coming from somewhere close to her parents room. Not thinking anything of it, she continued on with cleaning herself up. Running the warm water in the sink and grabbing a wash cloth from the linen closet. She soaked the it and began dabbing her face. The warmth of the water burned her face but she continued anyway. Thinking to herself that she deserved the pain for what she'd just put Travis through moments ago. She should have just climbed into his car and not made a bid deal about it.

While she was preoccupied, thinking about what had just happened. There was a loud crash from downstairs causing her to stand frozen where she was. The wash cloth that was in her hand dropped down on the ground with a soft thud. Spraying a reddish colored water all over the place. Any other time she'd be upset with herself for such a stupid act but right now she couldn't think. Her mind had gone blank with what she'd heard. What could have made such a loud sound? Was Simon home?

After a few minutes of standing there frozen and listening, she poked her head out of the door. With a quick movement of her head she looked up and down the hallway. Seeing no one. She pulled her head back in the bathroom and closed the door. Leaning herself against it and cried softly to herself. She prayed that her parents were hiding somewhere safe too. Then remembering that their door was slightly opened. Where normally it's closed.

Her hands were shaking so hard she had to clasp them together. Opening the door she stepped out slowly, placing her back against the wall and tip toeing her way to their room.

When she made her way to their door she peeked in but couldn't see anything. Reaching out with both her hands, she pushed gently to open it farther. Now she was able to see inside and the sight she saw was horrifying. Her mother, Joyce, who she'd seen just moments ago was now laying on the bed. There was blood all over the walls. Seeing this brought a scream of horror out of her mouth. She threw her hands over my mouth to mask the sound. But there was nothing she could do to stop the tears that were falling from her eyes.

Sierra took one step away from the wall thinking she could enter the room. With the numbness in her legs and slowly making it's way throughout her body. She walked over to where her mother was and reached down to see if she was alive. Standing this close to her, seeing her eyes wide open and staring at the wall brought Sierra to her knees. Her mother was laying on her stomach and from what Sierra could see Joyce had been stabbed in the back. Multiple times. Sierra's fingers softly grazed her mothers cheek. It was still warm and soft to the touch. "Mother please......don't leave me......I love you.......mom." She cried in whispers. Taking in shallow breaths and releasing just as much.

Her hands shook while she reached around for the phone that always sat on the night stand. With trembling fingers, she pushed the talk button and listened for a dial tone. When there wasn't one, her hand loss all control and it fell. “No this can't be happening. Mother....please...you have to wake up.....mother...." She choked out as the tears fell from her eyes onto her mothers face.

Another loud crash came from somewhere else in the house making Sierra jump back. She was on her feet now and running for the safety of her room. Knowing that she had a phone somewhere in there so she could call for help. Also knowing that her mother was dead and there was nothing else for her to do. She couldn't stay in the room with her mother because she knew they would find her.

Never once did it cross her mind to close her bedroom door thinking whoever was here in the house with her, since they have been upstairs already, they most definitely saw her door was opened. They would know someone was in here with it all the sudden closed and come in looking. Going unnoticed was something she's very good at. With years and years of practice.

She ran as quietly as possible to where her purse was and grabbed the cell phone out of it. Making her way just as quietly to her closet. There was a secret hiding place in there and she knew no one knew it was there. The minute she climbed in she heard heavy footsteps coming up the stairs. Her heart was beating so fast in her chest she thought it would burst out. The thumping of it overpowered any other sounds she was now hearing. Making it extremely hard to hear where this person or thing was.

With one hand she covered her mouth just in case the screams that were in her throat escaped and she placed her other one on the phone. She was on her knees, pushing herself in the corner. Trying to get further and further away from the door. When she heard someone whispering her name. Her body tensed up to the sound of their voice. A low deep growling sound.

"Sierra, darling. I know your here. I saw your boyfriend leave this morning without you." His voice said just above a whisper. Her body started shaking slightly and the hand that was covering her mouth wasn't working anymore. Holding her breath, she now was able to hold off the screams. But for how long?

"Shit! Where did she go? I saw her come back inside and I know her car is still in the garage so, where the hell is she?" His voice grew stronger signaling to her that he was upset that she was hiding.

"She's in here some where we just have to keep looking." This was a different voice and from what she heard, it was a females voice. There were two of them in her house right now. Making her wonder how many more there were.

She forgot completely about the phone that lay in her hand until it started vibrating. Scared to death, she dropped it. Her eyes shot wider as she looked at the bright neon green light that lit up the screen. She only starred at it, never answering. Her eyes couldn't focus on the caller but she did notice that it started vibrating louder. With the blanket she'd kept in here for those long nights she'd spent hiding from her brother, Simon. She picked up the phone with two fingers and dropped it on top of the blanket.

When the phone became silent once again she picked it up. Touching the screen to light it up then having to blink a few times so, she could read who called. To her surprise she saw who ever it was had left a message. Dialing that first because it was easier and listening. She knew if she opened her mouth, the only thing that would come out would be terrifying screams.

"Hey, Sierra. Look I'm sorry for the way I acted this morning. Please call me when you get this and at least tell me you made it to school alright." Travis' voice was shaky but still strong for him. Feeling the tears dropping from her face when she listened to his voice. This may be the last time she hears him.

With tears still fresh in her eyes, she ended the call and placed the phone back on the blanket. Pulling her knees to her chest and burying her face in them. Every nerve in her body was like a live wire, ready to ignite the minute something happen.

Sierra couldn't remember how long she's been in here, hiding out but everything was quiet now. She didn't heard any voices and thought that maybe they'd left. Hoping

they'd left. She pulled herself out from the corner and placed her hand on the door, gently pushing it open. Peeking out and not seeing anything different. Her room was still in the same order it was in earlier so,she climbed out further and stood up straight. Stretching her legs while she examined the rest of the room. Slowly leaving the closet then the room all together. She looked across the hall and saw that her parents door was now completely closed.

And as much as she tried she couldn't rid herself of the imagines from seeing her mother laying dead on her bed. Sierra couldn't as much as blink without seeing flashes of her and all the blood.

She tip toed moving closer and closer to the door and placed her hand on it. Somehow she managed to take in a deep breath and listened first. When no sounds came from inside, she put my hand on the door knob and turned it. Pushing the door open all the way open. Now her father was laying on the floor and seeing this brought out another scream in horror. With trembling limbs she ran to him and dropped on her knees. Reaching out to touch his face.