There is a faint sound of crickets chirping around the yard; some are closer than others, but they all are performing their own symphony to those who happen to be listening. Fireflies are cascading across the white blossoms of the moon garden – the smell of phlox, dragon flower, and calla lilies fill the warm evening air. Another summer's eve has been delivered and still here I sit on the paint-chipped porch waiting for nobody. Nobody to come. Nobody to say hello.

Well, that's not true. The girls all stopped by about a half hour ago pick me up for our weekly hangout at Millie's Soda Shop. Their raspberry cola was always my favorite, but tonight was just another one of those nights where I wanted to be alone.

Rei noted, as she's often known to, that I have spent more nights this summer by myself on this old porch than I have my whole life. She then said that she was beginning to think that I was straining away from the group on purpose, which is not the reason, though I understand why she would think that.

It was just a feeling that I've been getting on occasion. I had told Mina about the recurring dream I had started having at the end of the school year and she promised not to tell. She was actually very gaga about the whole thing, just like she is about her monthly crush. I love her to pieces, but sometimes she just loved too easily.

Not like me. I've never loved anyone except my mother, my older brother Sam, and of course my cute little border collie Rini. Sure, I've dated a couple of guys for a short period of time, but it was never anything serious. I guess it was just hard to believe in love after everything I had already seen at my age.

Besides, none of the guys at my school were really my type. Or, if I had a type they wouldn't be.

"Serena!" my mother called through the house.

"Out here, mom" I called back as I scratched at one of the paint chips on the porch. We need to give this thing a new layer of whitewash. The screen door squealed open.

My mother spoke in a gentle yet excited manner, "Honey, I just got a call from your brother. He's going to be coming home this weekend to visit." I could see that she wanted to jump up and down, but she remained composed as she told me the news.

"That's great" I said matter-of-factly. It was great; I was absolutely thrilled to see Sammy again. He had gotten a seasonal job packing crates at Baker Port a couple towns over and I hadn't seen him in months.

"Once Upon a Time is coming on, want me to wait for you?" my mother asked as she prepared to step back inside.

"Nah. I just want to stay out here for a bit longer. I'll either come in part-way through or re-watch it later, okay?" I stretched backward till I reclined on the wood structure, my hands behind my head. I heard her smile and then the screen door squeaked close.

The night sky was always such a beautiful thing to see. It was one of the first things I remember seeing in my dream each night.

In the dream I would be floating through the night sky, enveloped by the darkness it possessed. Just as I would feel totally happy and at peace I would see a clap of light disappear, though I could never recall seeing it in the first place.

Then I would hear a terrible screech, like a chalkboard, followed by a howling wolf and I would feel completely cold. The last part of my dream always ended with a tightening of my shoulders and spine while I felt paralyzed with fear. It was as if a person in my dream was kidnapping me, maybe? I'm not much of a dream interpreter, but I felt like there was someone there; that something bad was going to happen.

There wasn't a cloud in the sky, not a single hit story on the news channel – Lewes was a safe town with nothing to be worried about, usually. Occasionally, I would get a bad feeling and stay home as I precaution, but tonight I just didn't feel like going out. Being a social bunny had sure lost its perks by the time I had reached my senior year. It was now the time to start scoping out colleges, to write entry essays and pay money to fill out stacks of applications.

My eyes found their way back to the night sky where only a few stars still twinkled. A cloud cover had formed to block my view… Maybe not on purpose, but that's how it felt. I sighed to myself when suddenly I heard a pop noise and all of the lights in the house had gone out.

Jumping up quickly to my feet I heard my mother holler, "Serena, looks like we blew a fuse again! Can you flip the switch out back?"

"Yeah, no problem" I answered as I fanned hair away from my face and mouth. The wind sure had picked up. I walked to the front of the house where the light box was when Rini started barking loudly. "Shh, girl!" I commanded, but she kept on. I turned around to see the trees fighting to stand up against the wind. Geez… look at that. It looked awfully scary, but for some reason I seemed calm during the whole ordeal.

Once I opened the metal box I realized that the area power must be out due to the weather.

"Mom, looks like a storm – a big one – is about to hit us! I'll grab the plants before it hits!" I knew that my mother wouldn't have wanted me outside, but I was working hard on growing this flowers over break. Moreover, she was probably scattered through the house looking for flashlights and the crank radio.

There were only five pots on the porch, but as I was grabbing the fourth one I started piecing it all together in my mind. This was all very similar to my dream, which was odd, but I was bound to be faced with details of any dream during my life, so why focus on this instance?

Screech!

I flung my body around to see a beat up old Ford pull into our driveway haphazardly and stop abruptly. A tall man quickly got out and ran in my direction. I think he's trying to tell me something. Listen, Serena. Listen. But I can't. How could I listen when right before my eyes was the biggest monster I have ever seen?

I couldn't move. I wanted to run far away, but the courage left me, left my body standing there.

First chapter of my first online fanfiction. Please let me know what you think - both good and bad reviews. I want to know your opinion. Thank you in advance! Namaste :D