Four months passed, and things started to feel better. I still had horrible nightmares, but I wasn't as depressed as I was in the beginning. I even started hanging out with my friends again. Simon apologized several times for kissing me and begged me to forgive him, which of course I did. Neither of us wanted things to be awkward between us. More awkward, at least. But I must admit that it felt strange and a bit sad not to go to school with them anymore. Keesha kept me updated on all kinds of gossip though, and I studied a bit on my own, but that was all I managed. I still felt too weak to do much after all I'd been through. But the baby was alright, and that was all that mattered.

Keesha, Brian, Simon, and I had been watching a movie together while stuffing ourselves with takeaway pizza and popcorn. Our original plan was to go to the theater, but I was still too paranoid about Kemar and scared of leaving the house. And not to mention; I was terrified of being alone in the house. So whenever my parents were away, I made sure to either go to Keesha's house, or ask her and Brian to stay with me. I was pretty sure they were growing tired of it, but I just didn't take any chances.

"Skylar? Hello? Earth calling!"

I turned to Keesha, totally unaware that I'd been zoning out.

"What?"

"I asked what you want for Christmas."

"Oh."

Several seconds passed, and I couldn't come up with anything other than Kemar behind bars.

"Something for the baby perhaps?" I suggested with a sheepy grin, but Keesha shook her head.

"Nah. She'll get enough."

I laughed.

"No one said it was a girl, Keesh."

"I know. But I have a sixth sense about that. It's definitely gonna be a girl. Just wait and see."

I rolled my eyes and shook my head. I didn't really care whether it was a boy or a girl. What I was anxious of was to find out who the father was.

"Surprise me," I said at last, not really bothering to come up with anything.

In the same second, my parents came through the door, clearly in the middle of a hefty discussion. They were laughing, but like always, mom was pretty dramatic in her arguments. I smiled. They would become great grandparents. And Keesha would be the closest you could get to be an aunt. The only aunt, as far as I knew.

"We're gonna take off now," Keesha said and stood up to hug me goodbye, and I could see Simon considered giving me a hug too, but luckily, he didn't. He just followed the others and left, and it was like someone switched off a knob inside me. I felt exhausted. Completely drained. So I walked over to dad and gave him my best puppy dog eyes.

"I'm tired."

He pursed his lips into a smile and knew exactly what to do. Ever since I came home, I'd been scared to go into my room until dad had been in there and declared it safe. He even checked my bathroom, under my bed and in the closet, and used to joke about checking for monsters like he did when I was a child. However, both of us knew the reality in it, and that the real monster was still out there. It didn't matter how many times people assured me I would be safe from Kemar since he'd most likely fled the state, or even the country. And as long as dad was home, I had my own personal bodyguard. Yes, my dad's gun was indeed loaded and ready, and he was definitely not afraid to use it. But I also had another fear in mind. The demon. And I doubted any bullet would ever kill that.

I shouted goodnight to my mom downstairs and hugged my dad, then went into the bathroom to get done for the night. I changed into my usual sleeping outfit, a pair of shorts and an old t-shirt of Hooters. Then I brushed my teeth and braided my hair, before I dragged myself to bed, already half asleep. And a couple of minutes later, I'd passed out with Jared's sweater held tightly to my chest.

I was running. My bare feet were hurting, and when I looked down, I saw burning lava melting them. I couldn't move much. Not only because of the lava, but because there was something long and slimy clawing at my legs and held me back. Tentacles. Snakes. Arms of thousands of lost souls, grasping my stomach to tear it open. They wanted my baby, but I fought them with my life, trying to save it. But it was impossible. I was trapped. Just like I was trapped in the shed in the forest, I was cornered. Pushed up against the same walls as the ones in Kemar's cottage by some strange, evil fog, and once again I was about to get swallowed alive by the demon. So I screamed until my lungs stopped working.

And that's when my parents barged into my room, dad with his gun ready in his hand.

"What is it, Skylar? Are you okay? Is he here?"

I sat up in my bed, heaving for air and drenched in sweat, and tried to get back to reality.

"Y-yes... Uhm. No. It's okay. I-I'm okay. It was just one of those stupid nightmares again. I'm sorry for waking you up," I stuttered while I squinted against the sharp ceiling light that made my eyes hurt.

"Oh, I'm sorry, dear. I wish they'd stop soon," mom said and came over to give me a hug. She wiped my sweaty forehead like so many times before and her eyes were full of sympathy. "Can I get you anything? A glass of water?"

"No, I'm fine. I already have one on my nightstand. Don't worry. Thank you, though."

She smiled reassuringly, and so did dad before they both left, after switching off the lights and shutting the door. I was left to myself. Me and my thoughts, and my stupid anxiety that always made me feel like someone was watching me. I tried to shrug it off, but it just wouldn't go away. So I kept sitting in my bed with my back against the headboard, while I stared into the darkness of my room where the only light source was the streetlight outside. I could barely see the contours of my desk, bookshelf and the chair that always was overloaded with clothes. But then my imagination started running off with me. Did something move in the corner? Was that a sound of someone breathing? Did my closet door open by itself? Was I still dreaming?

Moments after I got my worst fear confirmed, when I suddenly found myself face to face with the man who had kidnapped and abused me in the most terrible ways.

"Kemar!" I gasped, so shocked that my voice didn't carry out. My heart rate went through the roof as panic flushed through my system and goosebumps stung my skin like thousands of needles. I shook my head. I refused to believe this was true. He couldn't be here. Dad had checked my room, for Christ's sake! And he was in here moment ago together with mom. Surely, they would've noticed if someone was hiding in my closet. Wouldn't they? But when the man stepped forward and spoke up, I knew...

"Missed me, sweetheart?"

"How did you get in?" I whispered. I studied him as he walked to the middle of the room, that wasn't at all big, which meant that he could possibly reach out and touch my foot if he wanted to. I barely dared to breathe. Electrical impulses ran up and down my spine, but instead of sharpening my reflexes, they numbed me into a paralyzing state of fear. I stared at him with wide eyes, and it freaked me out that it was too dark to read his facial expressions properly.

"You ruined it, Skylar. Everything was perfect until you came and fucked everything up!"

His voice was threatening and low, yet the way he spat the words out felt like a whip snapping in the air with the sound of firecrackers. He was about to walk even closer when he suddenly hesitated.

"What the hell? You whore!" he exclaimed when he saw my baby bump and looked like he was seconds away from attacking me. And finally I snapped out of the trance I was in, pulled my legs up underneath me, and wrapped my arms around my stomach as protection for my unborn child. He wouldn't kill me when he knew I was carrying his baby, would he?

"I knew you were a slut ever since the first time I saw you. That innocent girl gimmick was just all for show, while you in reality fucked around left and right. And look where that brought you. I should have killed you when I had the chance," he growled and came even closer, and I could finally see his eyes. I wish I didn't though, because his gaze was the one of a mentally disturbed man, and I had absolutely no idea what he would do next.

"You can't hurt me," I whispered and clenched even harder around my stomach, but Kemar just laughed and reiterated my words in a mocking way.

"Now, what makes you so sure about that? Because you're pregnant?"

"You can't kill your own child!" I yelled out.

"My child? It's not mine! I'm sterile! Why else would you think I'd stick my dick into you raw? Fucking bitch!"

He kneeled down on the bed now, slowly like a predator approaching its prey, and I already knew what he'd do next. Strangulation seemed to be one of his absolute favorite things to do, and he was an expert in knowing how to make people pass out but not kill. However, this time I knew he wouldn't stop after I'd passed out.

"Kemar. Stop."

"Or else what?" he snickered, and his voice was eerily calm again.

"My parents will hear you, because if you come any closer now, I will scream. And then my dad will shoot you."

He pretended to shudder and get scared but kept crawling on his hands and knees until he was so close that his breath fanned my face. I wanted so desperately to run, but it was like I was frozen in the position I was in. He still had power over me. The same way he'd made me clean the cottage naked. The same way he'd made me suck him off and forced me to pretend I liked it. He still owned my body and mind, and I couldn't do anything to take it back.

"I should have killed you when I had the chance," he repeated. Then he smiled wickedly. "Well, guess what. Now is my chance."

Suddenly his hands were around my neck, squeezing my airways shut.

"DAD!" I screamed, but it only came out as a gurgle. And the harder he squeezed, the more frantically I grasped at his arms, trying to make him stop. He only laughed. So I tried to scream again, but not a single sound came out. Not even a wheeze. And both the dim light in the room and Kemar's evil face started to disappear, until everything went black. But just before my body started to feel limp and weak, I heard something that sounded like a howling wolf.

Jared.

It was probably just imagination, but right then it didn't matter. The thought of Jared gave me a sudden strength I didn't know I had. Quickly, I reached underneath my pillow and found the only thing that could save me. The silver knife. And as soon as I got a proper grip, I swung it through the air and let it dive into Kemar's stomach.

It was like cutting through butter. It was almost like it belonged there. I pushed it further in and twisted the knife, and felt his warm blood cover my hand and flow down over my thigh. I didn't have to see it to know it was blood, and by now the lack of oxygen was about to overpower me. I almost thought it was too late when Kemar's grip around my throat finally weakened. Then I heard him grunt, and his arms fell down into his lap as he sat back a bit.

I quickly pushed him off me and gasped for air. And just as my vision started to come back, I saw Kemar fall sideways down to the floor and hit his head against my nightstand with a crash that knocked over both the lamp and the glass of water. I just wished it broke and cut his face.

I don't know how, but he must have either landed on the light switch or pulled the cord that switched it on. And because of the impact with the floor, the lightbulb shone brighter than usual, just like it sometimes does right before the filament breaks. I could see Kemar's face. His eyes had changed from blind hate to a more surprised wide-eyed look, and without hesitation, I jumped on top of him with one thing in mind: Kill the monster that had ruined my life before he could kill me and my baby. Jared's baby. However, just as I raised my hand, ready to stab Kemar one final time, I glared into his eyes and reiterated his own words.

"You're a sick, sick man, Kemar. But guess what. Now is my chance to kill you. Goodbye, sweetheart. Burn in hell!"

Then I swung my knife at him with all my force and hit him right in his chest. And when my parents barged through the door, the life in his eyes gradually faded and left them staring blindly out into the air.

My nightmare was over.

"Oh, my God!" my mom exclaimed in terror, and slammed both her hands over her mouth before she started sobbing. Then I heard my dad curse and load his gun, but since I still sat on top of Kemar, he didn't point it at anyone.

"Move, Skylar!" he yelled, but I just shook my head and looked at the knife in my hand. It had saved me from evil for the second time, thanks to Jared.

"It's over," I whispered, and dad put the gun on the bed and pulled me away from the dead body. But even though my mom threw herself around my neck and hugged me like it was for the very last time, I barely hugged her back. I just blinked my eyes apathetically and tried to process what just happened. Kemar was dead. He could never hurt me anymore. He could never hurt anyone. Still, there was one thing that kept occupying my mind, and that eventually made me pull away from mom's arms. I resolutely walked towards the window and searched the sky. And there, right above our neighbor's house...

The full moon.