Shadows of the Past: A Supernatural Suspense Mystery (Shadow Slayers Stories Book 1) by Nellie Steele (best books for 7th graders .TXT) 📕

intend on reading the stranger’s other messages but her curiosity got the better of her. She picked up her phone, opened the message app and selected the unread messages.

I’m sorry about the other day, I realize you are overwhelmed

The nightmares will stop or at least slow once you remember

I realize you don’t believe me but I can prove that I know you

Josie stared at the messages. The first two sounded like typical messages in a disagreement where one person was attempting to draw the other to their side. The last one struck her though. Prove it, she thought. How could he prove to her that they were acquainted?

As she studied the phone, another message popped onto her screen: Good morning, Josie… I hope you didn’t answer because you fell asleep :)

Josie clicked her display off, as though having it on allowed the man to see her and see that she was there. Josie pondered for a moment. Should she respond and if so, what should she answer? Was she crazy to respond to him? Perhaps it was best to let things drop, but she was intrigued to find out how he could “prove it” to her. Perhaps she could be finished with him once and for all if he didn’t provide evidence.

As she pondered her options, Damien knocked and came through the door without waiting for a response. “Special delivery!” he said cheerily as he came through the door carrying a tray. “Tea, two sugars, just like you like it, nice and hot! And some cookies!” he said, setting the tray on her nightstand. She moved the music box out of his way, setting it on her lap. “Here, I’ll take that,” he said, reaching for it.

“No, leave it.”

“You sure? I was just going to move it to the dresser.”

“I’m sure, it’s fine. Thanks.”

“Oh, this episode is great,” Damien said, noticing the T.V. show on her screen. “Want some company?”

Guilt consumed Josie about her borderline rude behavior earlier so she motioned that he was welcome to stay. “Awesome,” he said, throwing himself onto the opposite side of the bed and grabbing a cookie.

“So, did you want to stay for my sake or for cookies?” Josie teased.

“Cookies, definitely the cookies,” he joked back.

Josie took a sip of her tea and nibbled a cookie. “Hey, sorry about before, I was just super tired.”

“Yeah, I understand, Jos. It’s okay. We both realize that you’re having a rough time, we just want to make things easier.”

“I know, sometimes, though, I just, I don’t want to deal with it or have anyone treat me like there’s something wrong with me. Anyway, sorry.”

Damien put his arm around her in a half hug and she let her head rest on his shoulder for a moment. After a short while, he reached around her as though he would give her a full hug. Instead, he snagged a cookie from the plate. She picked her head up, giving him a face. “What?” he said, stuffing the cookie in his mouth.

Despite her lack of rest, it was the most normal moment the two had shared since Josie had been struggling with her nightmares and visions in the last week. She tried to enjoy the moment as much as possible, seeming almost normal again. Perhaps this was just what she needed. “Hey, who is this guy? The actor, what’s his name? What else was he in?” Damien asked.

“Um, I’m not sure, wait I look him up.”

“Okay, you do that, I’ll get more cookies,” Damien said, grabbing the plate he had emptied and hopping off the bed. Josie swiped her phone open as he darted out of the room. The message from her strange stalker appeared on the screen. While alone, she responded: How can you prove it?

She closed the app and went back to searching the actor Damien asked about. He returned within a few minutes with a replenished plate of cookies. “Did you find it?”

“Yeah, I got it,” Josie answered, telling him the actor’s name and what else he had starred in as he settled back on the bed to finish the show.

Josie’s cell phone soon chirped. She grabbed it to check the message. It was from her mysterious stalker. She did not want Damien to see the response, but she also didn’t want to create suspicion, so she nonchalantly checked the message and responded. His message read: I can tell you details about your nightmares

Okay, so go on she responded to him.

Damien gave her the side eye. “It’s my mom,” she lied. “Just checking up on me.”

“Did you tell her things are getting worse?”

“No, I didn’t, and I’m not planning to,” Josie continued to fib.

“Okay, sure. So, she thinks everything is okay?”

“Pretty much,” Josie said, telling a small bit of truth. She hadn’t told her mother anything in detail, only that she had been experiencing some sleepless nights. Her mother was not aware of the pervasiveness of the nightmares or the stalker.

Josie’s phone chirped again. Satisfied with her explanation, Damien paid no attention, returning his full attention to the T.V. Josie opened the message: You’re being chased through a cave with blood all over your hands

The details were close to her latest iteration of the dream, leaving her more than a little disconcerted. How would this stranger know this? Perhaps he had broken into the therapist’s office and listened to the recording. He couldn’t have gotten the detail about the blood from that recording. That piece of the dream hadn’t developed until after the therapist’s visit. Besides, that seemed a little farfetched. Although perhaps less farfetched than having a stalker following you around gifting you music boxes and telling you to remember your true identity. Josie didn’t answer for a moment, setting the phone down to consider her response.

Another message came through: I’m right, aren’t I and now you’re wondering how I know

Josie found herself annoyed, not only was it disturbing that this stranger was correct about her dream but now he presumed to tell her what she was