Sophie let out a much-needed sigh as she stepped through the door of her small flat; why couldn't Rob just except that things were over between them? The man had been pestering her all day to forgive him and take him back, but how could she do that when he had been seeing her best friend behind her back? She hated them both!

The brunette locked the door before collapsing onto her couch and switching the TV on; what she needed now was a corny sit-com and a good Chinese takeout. She'd just picked up her phone, ready to dial the company's number, when the light above her began to flicker on and off, along with the TV.

Great, she thought as she slapped the box, Could this day possibly get any worse?

Luckily, the slap seemed to have worked and the flickering settled again. She had managed to dial the number at last, when a creaking sounded behind her. She whipped around, her brown hair swirling behind her.

"Hello," she called; she'd locked the door, hadn't she? "Anybody there?"

No answer. She settled back down into her plush cushions, thinking it was just her cat, Sibby.

And that was when she felt a cold hand grab her from behind.

She shrieked and struggled, the stranger pulling on her hair. Then the blows came.

She cried out in agony as the man hit her repeatedly, with something hard and blunt. The blood gushed down her forehead, matting her hair. And then everything went black...