• Cassie slowly peered out of her bedroom window. The dark figure was still down there, in the back alleyway, staring back up at her. She froze when his gaze matched hers, not knowing whether to scream or run or just stay put. If she ever did decide to tell anyone about it, it's not like they would've believed her anyways. A fourteen year old girl in South Jersey getting stalked? Yeah, it was possible and highly probable down here, but not to a girl coming from a family as poor as hers. The small duplex her mom rented could barely be called a duplex at all, she thought, having two bedrooms, a closet at the bottom of the stairs leading right to the kitchen and bathroom with no other living space to speak of. The walls were peeling with the old wallpaper that was covering the plain white walls, the ceilings were also white, and the calking hadn't been done very well, as it puffed up around the edges of the walls. The lighting was dim because the circuitry was extremely old and the floors were wood and somewhat splintery.
    So if anyone did find out about it, they'd never be able to find out why it was happening; what motives the stalker would have. And it's not like she could tell them, because she didn't know.
    It had started when she had been walking home from the grocery store a few months ago. It was the time of year when summer turned to fall, so the leaves hadn't quite changed colors yet and it was still fairly warm outside. Cassie was walking pretty quickly, because the sun was setting and she wanted to be home before dark. She heard an obvious rustling in some bushes behind her—just some kids playing around she thought—and kept walking. Only a few seconds later, there was an unusually harsh blow of wind, blinding her with her dark hair in her face. When she finally collected herself again, the figure wasn't standing, but almost floating in front of her. He wore a black top hat and a long, black trench coat.
    "I'm watching you, Cassie. I'm always watching. And I know everything," it said in a deep, muffled voice.
    "Who are you?" Cassie asked, her knees shaking and terror struck on her face.
    It only laughed at her, "You've always known me Cassie, don't act like you don't know." And as soon as he was finished, he tipped his hat and vaporized with the wind, as if he were a part of it. She had been so scared she'd dropped her bags and sprinted her way back to her duplex. And now, just as before, he tipped his hat and vaporized again. Cassie let out a half sigh half cry, plopped down on her spring twin bed which squeaked when she landed, and stuffed her face into her old feather pillow.
    Suddenly, there was a knock on her bedroom door. She reluctantly opened it and saw it was her best friend Hallie. Hallie's rich brown hair covered her face and her green eyes were glassy.
    "What's wrong?" Cassie asked.
    "Cassie, it was horrible, I dreamt it again!"
    "What did you see Hallie?"
    "It was you…y-you were l-laying there, down in the ally," she looked her friend in the eye as tears began to stream down her face.
    "Dead."
    Cassie's face turned pale as stone.
    "How many times have you had this dream?" Cassie asked, terrified.
    "This is the second time, but Cassie we can't let this happen!" Hallie sobbed.
    'Who would do such a thing and why?' Hallie thought. 'Are my dreams making me cursed?'
    The third time Hallie had a dream, it always happened. She'd dreamt about breaking her arm at the park a few years ago and it'd happened. She'd dreamt about a lamp breaking one day when Cassie was babysitting two girls down the street and it had happened. And now she was dreaming about Cassie lying in an ally, dead, and there was a pretty high possibility that it would happen too. The two girls hugged each other, both scared and crying.
    "Come on Hallie, let's go out on the porch steps and try to figure this out," Cassie said.
    "O-okay," Hallie managed between sobs.
    Cassie held Hallie's hand and they sat down on the top step outside.
    "So this is the second time?" Cassie asked, obviously calmer about everything than Hallie was.
    "Mmhm," Hallie said and sniffled.
    "How long was it between the first and second dreams? A day? A week? That could help us figure out when the third one might be," Cassie said.
    "Well, about two days I guess, I didn't really think anything of the first one, I mean I've had plenty of dreams that only happen once and then never happen again. But the second one I had last night and no I'm really scared for you, Cass. Who would do something like—Cassie, what's wrong?"
    Cassie's eyes were as big as gumballs.
    "Why's he staring at us, Hallie?"
    "Who? Who's staring at us?" Hallie asked frantically.
    "That man in that long black coat across the street," Cassie responded.
    "Cassie, there's nobody there. Nobody's out here, just us."
    "How can you not see him?!"
    "Cass, nobody's out here except us," Hallie repeated.
    "He keeps following me, he won't let up," Cassie said. "He started watching me a few months ago and I have no idea why," she explained.
    "Cassie, you're really scaring me; are you feeling okay? Maybe you should see somebody…?" Hallie offered.
    "Are you saying I'm crazy? I thought you of all people would understand and believe me!"
    "I do believe you, it's just such a far-fetched idea and I'm still not completely sure what's going on."
    Cassie sighed and stood up. "I'm going inside. I'll see you later Hallie." And with that, she left and slammed the door. Hallie shook her head and made her way down the street to her own house.
    "Mom," she called when she walked in.
    "Yes?" her mom replied.
    "I'm worried about Cassie," Hallie said as she sat down on a bar stool at the kitchen counter.
    "What's worrying you?"
    "She says she sees this guy, and she told me he keeps watching her and she doesn't know why. She said she saw him when we were sitting outside a few minutes ago, but no one was there."
    "That is awfully strange…I don't want to jump to conclusions, but do you think maybe we should have her see someone about this?"
    "That's what I asked her, and she got really mad at me for saying that."
    "Well, I understand you not wanting her any madder at you than she already is. Would you like me to mention it to her mom?"
    "Sure, but be careful. I'm the only one she's told about it."
    "I'll keep that in mind."
    "Thanks mom, I just want to help her, you know what I mean?"
    "Yes, I do, and anytime Hallie," her mom smiled.

    -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

    The next day, Hallie's mom Heather and Cassie's mom Sarah went out for coffee. "Hallie was talking to me yesterday; she said she was worried about Cassie."
    "Why's that?" Sarah asked.
    "Well, please don't tell Cassie that Hallie told me, but Hallie said that Cassie had told her that she was seeing a man, and he's been watching her for a few months." Heather said.
    "Really?" Sarah asked, shocked and worried as well.
    "She also said that when Cassie told her that the man was watching them across the street, that no one was there. I don't know anything at all about psychology, but do you maybe think Cassie should talk to someone about what she's seeing?"
    "I don't know anything either," Sarah agreed, "and I think she should. I'm worried Heather—this could be serious."
    "I know, and I'm worried too."

    -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

    "Cassie, I want you to come downtown with me for a while. There's someone I want you to meet." Although she was suspicious, Cassie came. They went to an old three-story brick building and walked inside. Cassie looked around and saw she was in a doctors' office, and the sterile smell confirmed it. She sat down hesitantly as her mom signed something at the front of the room. "Mom!" she hissed as her mom took the seat next to hers.
    "What's wrong?" her mom asked.
    "Why the heck are we here?! There's obviously nothing wrong with you, and there's nothing wrong with me either!"
    "Cassie, will you just do this for me? Please?"
    Cassie glared at her. "Fine," she said and looked away, anger and also humiliation gleaming in her eyes.
    Someone called her name after a few minutes. Her mom walked towards the door and she reluctantly followed, dragging her feet. They followed the woman who had called her name down a long, narrow, very doctors' office looking hallway to a door marked with a plaque that read: Dr. Maria Hallardson—Child Psychologist. Cassie's eyes got wider and filled with more disgust. As they walked in the room, who she figured was Dr. Hallardson stood up.
    "Cassie," she said, shaking her hand, "it's nice to meet you."
    Cassie said nothing and sat down. Her mom sat next to her, and the door closed behind them.
    "So Cassie, you've been seeing this man watching you for about how long?"
    Cassie was furious. Hallie had told! How could she?! She was her best friend and not only that, but the person she trusted most and she'd gone and betrayed her by telling her most private secret! On the other hand…Dr. Hallardson believed her…maybe she could get the man away from her. She decided to trust her, and told her everything. But not before asking that her mom leave the room.
    "Of course, if it makes you uncomfortable to have her here she can leave," Dr. Hallardson said and her mom left the room. After that, Cassie poured her heart out onto the floor. Everything about him—how he looked, where he watched her, everything.
    "Well, I think I can help you out there, Cassie."
    "Really?" Cassie asked, hopeful.
    "Yes I do. I know of a place where you can go and he'll never bother you again."
    "Where?"
    "It's at the top of Bensen Hill, you know where that is, right?"
    "Of course, everyone knows where Bensen Hill is," Cassie responded.
    "Well, if you like, I can take you there right now and have some of your clothes sent there tomorrow."
    "Oh, thank you so much!" Cassie exclaimed.
    "But," said Dr. Hallardson, "there is one catch Cassie. Once you go there, you can never leave. Never."
    "I have no problem with that," Cassie said, satisfied.
    "Then it's settled. I'll have a cab come here to take you there."
    Dr. Hallardson explained everything to Cassie's mom, and just like that, she was off. "I think this will be good for her, it's the best place I know of, but I know how hard it will be on you," Dr. Hallardson said as she talked with Sarah in her office.
    "Well, it's what needs to be done I guess," Sarah sighed.
    "The Bensen Hill Mental Institution is the best one I know of and I'm sure they'll give her the best care there."
    "I wouldn't doubt it, and Cassie's a strong girl, I think she can handle it."

    -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

    Cassie was doing pretty well at BHMI. The first few days she was there, she never suspected a thing, going about doing her daily routines just like everyone else that was there. Although she hadn't made any friends there, she didn't mind; all she cared about was getting away from whoever it was that had an interest in her and had been watching her those last few months. For the first time in a very long time, Cassie was happy. Everyone let her be and she kept to herself, and she was okay with that.
    A few weeks after she had stayed there, Cassie got a letter from Hallie's mom. In it it said that Hallie had been murdered in the ally behind Cassie's house a few days before. Cassie didn't want to and couldn't believe a word of it. She spent the weeks after bawling uncontrollably, and with no word from her mother since she'd gotten there, Cassie fell to pieces. She didn't eat or sleep and she was a complete wreck.
    A while after, one of the counselors approached her and told Cassie to follow her. Cassie did what she was told, and kept pace with the counselor down tot the end of a very lengthy, dim hallway that had a steel bolted door at the end of it. The counselor unlocked and unbolted the door and led Cassie inside, but then spun around and locked Cassie in the room.
    "Let me out!!!" Cassie screamed. "Now!"
    "I'm sorry Cassie, but I had to," the counselor said, sadness and understanding in her eyes for the trapped girl.
    As the she walked away, Cassie observed her new environment. Each white padded wall led to another white padded wall which led to another white padded wall, leading then to the wall which held the door. The floor was, you guessed it, white and padded as well. In that room was where many people at the institution had completely lost their minds, and, where that night, Cassie would lose the thinness of what was left of her mind among them.