Looking through the window, Adrian's dark brown eyes caught up with the girl next door, Ashley Hill. She had just entered her house from a friend's party. Even though one of her many admirers had dropped Ashley off, Adrian couldn't help but wait for her to appear in her bedroom window.
The silhouette view of her slim body made Adrian drop the book he was reading; Natasha Preston's Silence. His gaze slightly shifted toward her window as she took off her dress.

Then, her red lace-balconette bra. Ducking his head back for a moment so as not to get caught, Adrian didn't know if she knew already, but Ash care less. Of course, she wouldn't. While she took off her underwear, Adrian couldn't help but admire her slim waist that melted into the most perfect ass he'd ever seen. It was only the white curtains and his reading glasses that separated them, but Adrian could trace out Ash from right there.

As if Ashley knew his thoughts, she suddenly peeped, and Adrian pulled back to his room. Her caramel eyes cast a brief look into the darkness while Adrian gently peeked at her once more. There again, her honey-blonde hair with chocolate brown highlights danced to the tune of the pleasant breeze. And every time he stole a glance at her to see, Adrian couldn't help but feel mesmerized, not just by her beauty. But her fierce aura.

He watched a smile form on her face as if she knew that he was there behind the curtains. But with these, Adrian dared not say a word. A gentle thud jerked in the silence and he knew she was preparing to go to bed. It took about a minute before the lights in her room went off.

'No, what just happened? Why is everywhere dark?' Adrian reached for his phone, but it wasn't there. Suddenly, it seems as if karma caught him in the act of the evil deed of stealing glances at his neighbor. And he has to suffer for it.

Adrian's shivering right arm held onto his wide reading glasses. He would never have lost that for anything.

The radiant moon was bright enough to make him see his shadows and... His phone. Adrian spun on its flashlight and rushed downstairs.

Suddenly, he realized how ghost-silent the house was. It's been six weeks since they moved into the apartment and goodness knows why his mum hasn't called an electrician to fix it yet. Adrian walked into the storeroom where their old things were kept. He reached at the back of a black torn closet and something tumbled behind him.

"Hey, hello! Stormie, is that you?"

He couldn't help but calm down his trembling voice in the silence that followed.

'Stormie must be in bed.' He pondered and swallowed while deep in thought.

His fingers, which were now cold and sweaty, impatiently reached for the switches. Adrian wasn't sure of what to press, but he studied the switches carefully.

In a blink of an eye, behind the creepy wardrobe, was someone two times taller than he was. His scared eyes caught the baby killer with one tooth and a bloody candle burning in front of him. It let out a banshee cry and Adrian roared out with fear, but he kicked it down before it could move.

It was Stormie standing on a stool, covered in a black cloak so he didn't realize it at first. Adrian's shaky fingers pressed a switch and all the lights came on. It was his 14-year-old sister playing a prank on him again. She took off the mask disappointedly.

"What's your problem, dude? Wasn't that supposed to be fun?!"

"How many times do I have to tell you, Stormie? I am not your playmate!"

Adrian turned off his phone's flashlight and realized that his whole body was still shivering at the effect of her so-called prank. Without saying another word, he got into his room while his sister Stormie stared at her mini-camera. Their mum got it for her two weeks ago, on her 14th birthday, and she won't stop taking weird pictures.

"Awwwn... You're such a cute brother." Stormie smiled at the Camera.

The following morning, Adrian was replacing the burnt-out bulbs that had gone out last night. He wasn't an electrician, but a guy needs to have technical knowledge of situations like this. It comes in handy.

"Do you know Ginger Snaps 2 is back?" Stormie asked as she walked in with their mum's laptop. She was chewing on bubble gum and crushing it loudly.

Adrian turned to Stormie in annoyance, adjusting his glasses. She walked towards him, took a seat on the sofa, and placed the old laptop on the table.

"You've told me about fifteen times this week." He reminded her.

"The production is still ongoing. Mum said she'll take me."

"No, she said she would buy us a ticket to see it!" Adrian corrected and climbed down the ladder.

Stormie, unlike other girls her age, loves horror movies with beautiful, yet terrific lady villains. On the other hand, Adrian hates horror and anything that deals with fear. He loves romance, beautiful fantasies, and everything normal, in between. He switched on the lights and the small plasma television hanging on the wall. With the remote control at hand, Adrian changed the channel to network news.

A hateful sigh escaped Stormie's lips as she closed the laptop. Her brother faced her, wondering what he had done this time.

"And why are we watching network news? Just because you're a scaredy-cat doesn't mean you should chase the dogs away. You're a freaking guy, for goodness' sake... I can't sit here to watch these boring lies!"

She grabbed the remote control from the table and reduced its volume.

"You can go into your room, Stormie! We're expecting a guest." An annoying hiss whooshed out of Adrian.

"A guest?" A smirk formed on her lips, and her eyes rolled in his direction. "Is Ashley finally paying a visit? Seems you've finally got the balls to ask her out with the way you act around her, Ugh! It's pretty lame." Stormie's smile dropped with a frown on her face.

"Stop being sassy. I haven't asked her out yet. It's Mr. Clark. I invited him for breakfast." Adrian pointed out.

"Why would you do that?"

"Come on, it's Saturday morning, and I thought that would be good for mum." He added. "She needs a date! Be nice to him, okay?"

The siblings turned towards the door to the sound of the doorbell.

Adrian rushed to the door and opened up for Mr. Clark. The man was tall, slim, and good-looking. His jet-black hair was partly jellied to the back and his sky-blue eyes were ones to die for. But he has only a mole on the right side of his nose, resembling that of Barack Obama.

"Good morning, Mr. Clark. You look good in that shirt." Adrian complimented.

"Thank you." He replied with a firm smile, staring at his blue, long-sleeved shirt in self-admiration. "So... Is she in?"

"Yes, sure. Come in." Adrian agreed, and Mr. Clark brought forward a bouquet of red roses before walking in. The anxiousness in his serious eyes made Adrian blush. He believes Mr. Clark, just like him, deserves a chance to love. Immediately he stepped in. Adrian invited him to join them at the table before serving breakfast. Suddenly, Jessica Knight- their mum interrupted.

"Hi, guys."

"Hey, mum." Stormie and Adrian chorus except for Mr. Clark. He stared at Jessica, a little flushed. And the kids made light giggles at each other as the silence between them intensified.

"He...llo Mister?" Jessica watched them confusedly, killing their smiles with a frown. The scorn she gave Adrian demanded an answer. "Guys, what's going on here?"

"Do you remember Mr. Clark, the man who helped with my bicycle the other day?" Adrian reminded his mum. "I told you he lives on the next street."

"Yes, you did. Nice to meet you, Mr. Clark." His mum muttered blankly while placing a tray of apple pie in the middle of the dining table.

"Call me Harry." A killer smile spread across his slim lips.

As if she felt uncomfortable, Jessica faked a smile and stepped backward. "Umm, Adrian. Meet me in the kitchen." She pointed with a frown and Adrian followed his mother right away.

"What's wrong, mum?"

"What the heck are you trying to do, son? Haven't I warned you to stop inviting random men into this house? Stop playing cupid by luring strangers home!" Jessica cautioned.

"But you need to date. It would help us in every way."

"I would date when I find the right person, I have to leave right now! After breakfast, make sure you do the dishes. I might be coming home late." She instructed, taking the apron off her body.

"But it's the weekend! You promised to spend the weekend with us." Adrian whined at his mum with disappointment.

"You're no longer a kid, Adrian so man up! I am a nurse and not a waitress-!"

'Ring! Ring! Ring!' her phone vibrated.

She ended the call so as not to interrupt their conversation and stuck a piece of pie into her mouth.

Meanwhile, Stormie was staring at the prince charming sitting in front of her. Well, she hated Prince Charming and Cinderella wasn't one of her favorites. Lady Tremaine was.

"It's so gentlemanly of you to have visited." Stormie started with a cute smile. "Not all men can take such a step."

"Thank you, Stormie. You're such a sweetheart." Mr. Clark replied and his eyes brightened with excitement.

"Can you please help me unplug my laptop? It's by that corner." Stormie pointed while Mr. Clark looked in that direction.

"Sure. Of course." He stood up to unplug the code.

Just then, he let out a scream as he got electrocuted. Stormie had earlier poured water on the marble floor and plugged a naked wire from the socket. Its electronic current passed through his veins, causing him a cardiac arrhythmia.

The next thing that followed was oozes of evil laughter as she took shots of Mr. Clark's burnt hair that was now straight nails.

"STORMIE!" Jessica and Adrian yelled at her, knowing she was at it again.

'Ka-chick! Ka-chick! Ka-chick!' The shutter of her camera clicked.

Stormie's Baby Face Mask With One Tooth and a bleeding, bloody candle.

Adrian's Thoughts On Ashley.