There are two things that you need to know about Izzy. First, she's the kind of person that gets an idea and will not let it go, this could be from an idea that it would be funny for a dog to start meowing to an idea that the child she was babysitting for should be taken into care. Second, she had only ever cried twice, and that was in fact the only two times that she had ever been scared. Both of these things are actually how the story starts.

She was babysitting for a small, troubled little boy called Todd Casil. It had been a long night to say the least. Both parents weren't even present when she arrived so who knows how long the poor boy had been alone.. The money was left on the table along with a note that said just three short sentences:

Babysitter,

The kid is in his room. Don't bother me or my wife. Money's on the table for when you leave.

Mr. Casil.

Izzy had spent most of the six hour visit trying to convince Todd that she was not in fact some evil demon trying to take him to the realm of the un-dead and that she was safe. After gaining a small amount of trust, she had made him something to eat and was now tucking him into his bed to get him to sleep.

"So what time did your parents say they would be back?" she asked.

"Um… They didn't tell me anything. Maybe they're not coming back! Maybe they've been eaten by some evil maggot in the street or what if -"

"Hey, hey, calm down!" I hushed, smoothing his hair, "They're fine, I know it. I promise that when you wake up, they'll be back, okay?"

"But what if I don't wake up. What if -"

"You will wake up, I promise." I smiled, brushing away tiny tears that were forming, "I'm sure that Shmee here won't let anything hurt you."

I picked up the creepy looking bear and made it kiss the boy on the head before tucking him in next to him for good measure. Outside she was smiling, but on the inside she was fuming. How could a parent let their child become this scared, leaving him who knows how long before the babysitter shows up, this kid was traumatised! Izzy had over twenty cousins and two siblings to which she was the oldest at nineteen, she was very maternal.

"Do you want me to tell a bedtime story Todd?"

He ducked his head and muttered, "You can call me 'Squee' if you like, everyone else does…"

I took this as a big step in the right direction and nodded, "Okay, why do they call you that?"

"It's the noise I make when I'm scared, and I do it a lot."

She had to admit, she had been wondering why he had been making that noise all night, but thought that it was just a habit he had, which wasn't really far from the truth. She felt so much sympathy for this boy, as someone who had never been scared in her life, she couldn't even being to imagine being in this kids shoes and being scared of everything.

"It's okay to be scared. You know, I had a similar nickname when I was around your age." Squee titled his head in curiosity, "They called me 'Meep' because I used to have to wear a hearing aid and it kept making a little meep sound every now and again. Strangely enough, it seemed to happen whenever I got an idea, like how it would be funny if a dog starting meowing like a kitten."

He giggled and settled down into a sleeping position. As he yawned he glanced at his window and whispered, "Will you stay until I sleep so that the crazy man next door doesn't try and talk to me?"

What the hell?

"Crazy man next door?" she asked, instinctively glaring at the window.

He nodded, "He scares me, but he only likes to talk to me. He's not too bad, but he scares me, so I don't want to talk to him tonight when my parents aren't here."

She nodded, "Okay, you go to sleep, I'll be right here and when you wake up Mummy and Daddy will be home." She didn't mean to say this, but it slipped out, "And if you need anything, I'll always be there for you, I promise."

He nodded and closed his eyes. True to her word, Izzy stayed put. An idea was forming in her head. There was something very wrong with this child, maybe she should ring social services or something. She wasn't sure if she actually believed that there was a crazy man next door, but the fact that he was scared of him, real or not, was not right. He needed to feel safe and loved, he needed real parents and a real home. But she had only been to this house once, and she was just a babysitter, so didn't really have the right.

When she was sure that Squee was sleeping soundly, she got up and left the room. Just as she was walking downstairs, the front door opened and an irritated and tired looking man walked in.

"Did you have a nice night, Mr. Casil?" Izzy asked, making a presumption that it was her employer.

He grumbled and pushed past her heading into a study, "Did my wife wake up?"

The mother was here? "Uh, no, she didn't. But Todd is asleep -"

He slammed the door in her face. She was about to storm in there and give him a piece of her mind, but thought against it. Instead, she called to him that she could babysit again if needed and then left the house, fists clenched in anger. She couldn't stand rude people, and rude people who neglected their children was just infuriating! Maybe she should ring social services… No, she would have another few turns babysitting for them first and then make her decision. After all, she didn't want to blow things out of proportion, and loose her job at the same time…

It was late and dark outside. She lived a few streets away so walking didn't bother her that much. However, she'd been warned that this was a rough area to live in. As she walked away form the house, she looked over at next door where the supposed crazy man lived. It was small and run down, the number 777 ironically, windows boarded up and no sign of life. Surely no one would be living there? She shook her head and carried on walking. It was cold so she wanted to get home, she'd think more on it later.

The streetlamps didn't work so well in this area, flickering randomly or just plain shorted out. The only real light was from the windows of houses that she passed by. It was creepy, but she wasn't too bothered by it, in fact, it was interesting seeing how things looked in the dark. It was like discovering a whole new world.

Her wonder was interrupted by something bumping straight into her. She stumbled to the side and looked up. It was a person she'd collided with, a tall, lanky man that she could see quite clearly, just his large, questioning eyes.

"Sorry, I was daydreaming." She said sheepishly, "You okay?"

He arched an eyebrow, "Yes. May I ask why you found my house so interesting?"

What was that supposed to mean? She thought for a moment, then it clicked. She subtly took a step backwards and smiled, "So you're the wacky man who lives next door?"

"Excuse me?" he asked, voice lowing slightly.

"I'm sorry that came out wrong! I was babysitting for the boy next door to you and he mentioned you, sorry that sounded mean." He was just staring at her intensely. Izzy started to feel a bit awkward and edged around him, "Um, goodnight!"

She walked a little faster down the street, she felt her face redden with embarrassment. Oh god that was awkward! She must have sounded like a right loon! She peeked over her shoulder, but he was gone, yet she still felt like she was being watched. She shook it off and convinced herself it was just the cold. Only another ten minutes or so and she'd be home in the warm.

All of a sudden, she felt herself being hoisted into the air and pulled into more darkness. Her back slammed against a damn brick wall, making her head jolt backwards into collision. Her vision swayed momentarily before focussing in on a tall, thin figure with practically glowing eyes. She widened her eyes in shock as she recognised him as the man from earlier. The next door man.

His hand was clamped around her neck, she tried to swing her arms but they were weak and flimsy like a dolls. She gasped for breath. The was a gleam of moonlight against metal and she shrieked as she saw it was a long, pointed knife. He glared at her as he pressed the tip against her navel.

"Wacky? I'm sure I've mentioned to people before that I despise that particular word, yet people still remain to use it to describe me. Then again… I'm not sure I left anyone as a witness last time." He said, unnaturally calmly.

For the first time in her life, Izzy was scared, purely terrified. And that is when the tears started falling. It was confusing as to what was more terrifying, the fact that she was about to die, or the fact that she was actually scared for once. She tried to beg to be set free, tried to apologise, but he only tightened his grip.

"Let me guess, you didn't mean to? You're sorry? You'll never use that word again? You'll do anything? Oh here's the best one, you'll promise to change if I let you go?" he sounded bored, "From experience, you people are never sorry, you're only sorry that you didn't get away with it."

With that, he thrust the blade into her stomach and cruelly twisted it. The pain was unbearable, she screamed in agony and felt the sickly, hot rush of her own blood absorb into her jacket. He withdrew the blade and released her. He expected her to fall to the ground, maybe he would have to stab her again?

Izzy saw black spots hovering in front of her. The smell of blood made her retch, which only cause more blood to pour away. She felt him step away, looking at her with disgust. Tears fell hot and heavy down her cheeks, heart fading into murmurs of life. However, she didn't fall, like she thought she would. Instead, she tilted forward, her arms grabbing the stranger by the shoulders. She pulled him to her, and tried to whisper something. He was startled, but didn't pull away. Then, he understood what she was saying. She didn't even know why this was her dying wish, but it felt right. She brought her quivering lips to his ear and said:

"Tell Squee… I'm sorry… I broke my promise…" she gasped, and with that, her grip slipped and fell into the dirt of the ally at the strangers feet.