Erin awoke the next day to find the spot next to them empty.
They stared at it for a while before deciding to get up. Erin rolled out of bed with a thud, groaning. They walked into the living room, trying to find Mrs Maddox or Dani. Instead, they found a note sitting on the counter.

Erin rubbed their eyes and picked up the note.

Dear Erin,
Dani is at school today, and unfortunately I could not get the day off, however, I will be able to take tomorrow off, so please don't fret. Dani should be home by around 4 and I'll be home in time to make dinner. I know being alone isn't the best for you right now, but maybe it will help a bit. You know where the food is.

Love,
Mrs. Maddox ♡

Erin smiled at the piece of paper. They were lucky to have somebody like Mrs Maddox in their life.

Stretching, Erin decided it was time to actually start their day. Glancing at the clock on the wall, they discovered it was 8 o'clock. That was the most they ever slept in. Usually, they woke up at five. They didn't really know why it had always been like that. Their father would wake up early as well and they would go on walks together. It must have been genes.

Erin walked to the kitchen and started their morning routine. Erin was raised as a very healthy person, almost to the extent of a health nut. So when they reached for the whole grain flour and the healthiest ingredients you can get just to make some waffles, it doesn't come as much of a surprise.

Within a half hour, Erin already had two waffles with fruit and some orange juice set out on a plate. Normally they'd be sitting with their dad, talking about any strange dreams they had or their plans for the day. Breakfast for them was their time to truly bond. While the world slept, they were awake, ready to watch the sunrise. Ready to feel the mornings first breeze. It was something they both loved.

Erin was pulled away from their train of thought by the sensation of something wet landing on their hand. Another tear. They've been crying an awful lot lately.

The blonde teen stood up and cleaned their mess. Continuing their day, and stopping their depressing thoughts. Getting dressed in a pair of tights and a sports bra, Erin headed for the door, rubber band in their mouth as they gathered what little hair they had from their face. They went to open it when they saw another note.

Erin,
I left my old iPod on your bedside table. I figured you'd go for a run and needed some music.

Dani~
p.s. you snore in your sleep.

Erin let out a snort at Dani's comment.

Soon after Erin was exiting the house with a pair of earbud in their ears and an iPod turning on in their media pocket. (Fancy work out pants.) Erin did a few mandatory stretched in the front yard before heading out and pressing play on the iPod.

Fleetwood Mac starting flowing through the earbuds. A sad smile passed Erin's lips. They started to run. Lindsey Buckingham's voice telling them where to go. Erin started to run faster, nothing in their mind but the words to the song and the path in front of them. There was really no need to pay attention, they knew this neighbourhood like the back of their hand.

Their three minutes were up. The song ended. Their surroundings began to bleed through their subconscious and it turned into reality again. Not wanting to leave that world, Erin replayed the song and kept running.

Memories of their dad singing this song in the kitchen while cooking crossed their mind. Their father, Spencer Holmes, the strongest man in their world, sitting on the rocking chair outside listening to the wind chimes, whispering the words. Erin never asked why this song was so important to him, all they knew was that it was his favourite. He knew every word by heart. He loved it so much, he almost named Erin Lindsey. It's a good thing he didn't.

Erin recalls how much their father loved that song, but they also remember the sad look that would cross his face as he sang it. Like as if there was something missing. They remember the few times it would be playing on the radio and expecting their father would start singing along, but instead he would turn it down, saying that it didn't always feel right to sing it alone.

After hearing that Erin tried their hardest to learn every word. They remember surprising Spencer by singing it to him one morning to wake him up. He woke up with tears in his eyes. Erin never understood why. Maybe he just loved their voice so much.

The song stopped again. But this time because the device was dying.

Erin was forced back into the real world. They felt hot. Very hot. Sweat was pouring from their face. At least they assumed it was sweat. Most of it was probably tears. Erin's legs felt like rubber, their feet hurt and it was getting hard to breath. They bent forward, placing their hands on their knees in hope to catch their breath.

After a few minutes, Erin stood high and observed their surroundings. The park. They ran all the way to the park by the main street.

"I'm so far..." They whispered to themselves, running a hand through their hair. "How long was I running for..."

Erin started to head towards the drinking fountain. Along the way, they got the tome from a stranger. 11:30, they'd been running since 8:40 to 11:30. No wonder they were so sore.

Erin sat down on a swing and stared at the road for a while, playing Slug Bug with themselves.

It's not as fun that way.

The soon to be 16 years old stood up and started walking home, this time taking a shortcut. Placerville isn't the biggest.

Walking in silence can be relaxing.

Even if you are next to a fairly busy road.

Now with a destination in mind, walking home seemed to take forever. It felt like an hour had past when really it was just fifteen minutes. It was honestly annoying.

Maybe walking in silence isn't very relaxing when you're impatient. Erin thought. If only the iPod hadn't-

"Erin.."

They froze. That couldn't be... it sounded like.. "Erin, chickadee..." It is.

"Dad?" Erin's voice cracked. It couldn't be Dad. He's dead. They know he is. They saw it happen.

But maybe it is. Maybe this has all been a terrible nightmare. Maybe Spencer is alive and he's there, waking Erin from a nap. Oh, how they'd love to believe that. But deep inside they know, it's impossible for him to be alive, for him to be calling to them. So what is?

Erin slowly turned around, heels planted on the ground, and there, not even ten feet away, is a strange, terrifying creature.

It had the body of a stag, but bigger, almost like an elk but more lean, and the neck of a lion. Its main was a deep red colour almost like. "Blood," Erin whispered. It wouldn't surprise them if it was blood because the appearance of its face could haunt any person's nightmares. It had the face of a dog-like creature, a hyena. But that wasn't the worst part. The worst part was its mouth. Its mouth was like no mouth ever seen before. It stretched out into a long, toothy grin. Reaching all the way to bellow its ear, and the teeth were yellow and scraggly, misfit and sharp. It looked like it could tear you to pieces.

But then it spoke. It spoke in Erin's father's voice.

"Come here sweety, let me get a good look at cha'." Erin ran. The creature followed, laughing.

Running as fast as they can, Erin crosses the street, barely dodging a car. They can hear the sound of hooves against asphalt and the panting laugh of a crazed man.

There's no way Erin could escape bt running like this, so they turn and skid over a parked car into an alleyway. They hear a loud crash and the sound of a car alarm going off.

Taking the risk, they check behind them. They see the creature laying on the ground, not dead but obviously injured, and there was the car that hit it, then swerved off into the same parked car Erin leapt over.

Erin calmed their breath a bit before taking off into a run again. There was no way they were going to risk walking.

Reaching the front door, they unlocked the house before stepping inside. They didn't bother with removing their shoes as they ran around and locked anything and everything leading to the outside before proceeding to lock themselves in their room. And for the third time today, they cried.