I wake with a start hours later, panting. My clock reads 12:23 A.M. and I groan as my phone buzzes. A chill runs through me as I grab it, wondering who could be texting at this hour.

An unknown number appears on the screen, filling me with dread. 'Isabella Harrison, I presume? I'm an old classmate of your father's. Meet me in the graveyard in an hour. Come alone.' I'm trembling by the time I finish reading the message.

I get dressed as quietly as I can, grabbing my phone before slipping out the back door. My heart thumps in my chest as I walk to the graveyard. "Hello?" I whisper-call. I wait a few minutes before turning around and leaving the graveyard.

But before I can take more than a few steps, I freeze as I feel the cool metal of a knife at my throat. "Take another step and you'll find out what I'm really capable of." An idea strikes me, so crazy it just might work.

I stop struggling and my captor relaxes his grip just enough for me to elbow him in the face. He lets me go with a shout, stumbling backwards and clutching his face.

While he's distracted, I swipe the knife from his hand. Anger fills his eyes as we circle one another. "Who are you?" I ask, panting.

The man spreads his arms out wide, a mock hurt look appearing on his face. "You really haven't heard of me? I was sure your dad would've told you about me. Vincent Crow."

Shock fills me as I recognise the name. I read his name in an old yearbook of Dad's once. Needless to say, he and Dad didn't get along well. "What do you want?" I ask, my voice trembling with exhaustion.

He grabs me by the hair before leaning in close, his hot breath making my eyes water. "I want you to pass on a message to your dad," he says. He lets me go, then kicks me hard in the stomach, knocking the air out of me.

I land hard on my shoulder, struggling to breathe. A burst of pain spreads through my shoulder and I wince. He crouches down beside me. "This is what I should've done to Dani a long time ago."

The mention of Mom fills me with grief, but before I can blink, he disappears. My head is spinning so bad, I can hardly move, but I manage to stumble home. Dad rushes outside, catching me before I hit the ground. "Sweetie, what happened?"

I shake my head, wincing as we walk inside. The wound on my shoulder makes speaking impossible. I dip in and out of consciousness for the next few hours.

When I'm asleep, my dreams are filled with sadness. My heart races as I walk through the graveyard, heading to Mom's grave. I see the rose from my last visit still laying against the grave and I smile, bending down.

I run my hand across the smooth stone, blinking back tears. "I'm so sorry, Mom," I whisper. A heartbeat later, I hear a familiar shimmering noise behind me. Whirling around, I clutch my necklace as Mom appears in front of me.

For a while, we just stare at each other, then she breaks the silence. "What could you possibly have to be sorry for, my love?" She asks.

Tears spill down my cheeks at the sound of her voice. "I don't know what to do, Mom. I'm second-guessing every decision I make, all the while wishing you were here with me. We're not the same without you. Dad and I... we miss you more than words can say."

She clicks her tongue. "You are a strong, beautiful, intelligent young woman. You certainly don't need me around to tell you. Tell Drake I love him. And... tell him I'm sorry."

Before I can ask what she means, she starts to fade. A minute later, she's gone. I wake up moments later to the sun shining through my windows.

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