Chapter 1:

My feet sunk into the sandy beach of Losmas Heights. For a 15-year-old girl, I was fast, really fast. I sprinted across the coast, carefully leaping over discarded rocks, shells, and twigs. Turning my head to stare behind me, I brushed my unruly red locks out of my line of sight. I could hear my friend’s voices catching up to her. We had been playing tag around the small town for almost an hour and I was the last one left. I flew across the sand with the safe spot in sight. You can do it, Valerie! You can outrun them! You got this, you got this, you got th-

Wam!

My head was spinning, before I knew it, I was on the ground. I could hear a worried yet unfamiliar voice. Slowly opening my eyes, I raised a hand up to my face to block out the fiery sun. I turned my head to the side in time to notice a clearly panicking girl. The teenager’s short curly chocolate brown hair hung in front of her right eye, obscuring it from view.  She was sporting a loose Jamician T-shirt and baggy drawstring shorts. 

“Oh my god! I’m so, so, so sorry! I wasn’t looking where I was going-” The girl rambled, helping me rise from the sandy shore. My cheeks had turned red as I shook the sand off my shirt. 

“Please don’t worry about it! I’m such a klutz!” I exclaimed. I took in the girl’s appearance, as the teenager struggled to remove a small stick from her hair. “Are you on the Townoak running team? I don’t think I’ve seen you around here.” The girl giggled before explaining. “ Nope! Me and my family just moved here from Atlanta but I love running! I’ll be starting Lomas High School next week. I’ve heard that they have a really good cross country team. I’m going to try out next Tuesday”

“Nice to meet you, I’m Valerie Blair, the vice president of the cross country team.  Let me know if you need any help! I’d be happy to show you around the town.”  I offered, grinning. “Amancia Dawson. I’ll have to take you up on your offer some time. We just moved into a house on Birch Street.” My eyes widened. “You’re the family that moved in next door to me? That’s amazing!” 

Amanica nodded. “I probably should be getting back home. I have some things to unpack, and I think you have some guests.” She smirked, pointing behind me. “Hey wait!” I grabbed her arm quickly before being blinded by a flashing light. Images were flying in front of my face. A car crash, blood, a hospital, and a grave. I let go of her arm and stumbled backward. What the heck just happened?