Our entire dorm is on lockdown.
There’s security everywhere because of the murder.
A girl’s body was found stuffed in a suitcase…
“No one else can have you.”
The girl’s name is — was — Miranda.
I really thought she might be the one.
But now I’ll never find out.
Suddenly, I hear a tap at my window.
I’m scared, but I decide to look out the window.
I look closer to make sure.
But there’s just darkness and the sound of rain hitting the ground.
Thunder claps and lightning strikes.
Then suddenly, a figure appears.
It’s a haggard, soaking-wet woman.
She bangs against the window.
I gasp and fall backwards.
I bounce off the bed and hit the floor with a thud.
A moment passes, and that’s when I hear screams.
I bolt upright and face the figure in the window.
The screams are coming from the woman.
She starts banging at the window.
I gasp and cover my mouth because she’s calling my name.
Who is this person and how did she reach a 5-story window?
I squint and look closer.
I should run, but something stops me.
It’s because I recognize this woman.
Miranda
Kyle! Open the window!
But then I snap out of it.
I run to the window and open it.
The woman crawls in and shuts the window.
And she is definitely alive.
Kyle
Thank god you’re alive!
She puts a finger over her lips…
And pulls me away from the window.
Suddenly, there’s a knock on my door.
Security
This is campus security.
Security
We heard yelling. Are you all right?
I look at Miranda, who looks at me intensely and whispers.
Miranda
Tell them you’re fine and to go away!
Kyle
I just fell out of bed.
Security
Alright then. Goodnight.
Kyle
Goodnight. Thanks for checking.
Miranda
Do you have a towel?
She spots one in my room and grabs it to dry off.
Kyle
Why did I have to lie to security?
Miranda
Because I can’t be found.
Kyle
You were found DEAD!
Kyle
There was a funeral for you!
Kyle
Wait. Whose body was that in the suitcase then?
Miranda grabs me by the shoulder.
She gets right in my face.
I feel myself go lightheaded.
Kyle
What? No, that’s not possible!
I grab my phone and pull up the newspaper article…
About her body being found.
Kyle
It says so right here!
Kyle
You were found dead!
Kyle
Strangled and stuffed—
Miranda
In a suitcase. I know.
Miranda pulls her hair back and unbuttons her blouse.
Kyle
Woah, what are you doing?
She unbuttons it halfway down and pulls at one side…
There are large dark bruises around her neck.
Miranda
I was strangled and killed…
Miranda
By my old boyfriend Ed.
My eyes widen to the size of dinner plates.
Kyle
Are you trying to tell me you’re a ghost?
Miranda
No, I wish it was that simple.
She walks back to the window and scans the room.
Kyle
What are you looking for?
Miranda
Do you have any weapons?
Kyle
Me? Weapons? No, why?
Miranda
Okay, I guess I have no choice then.
She opens the window and stands at the edge.
Miranda
I wish you had a weapon.
Thunder claps and lightning strikes as she turns around…
And jumps out of the window.
I cover my mouth just in time to smother a scream.
Followed by a sickening crunch.
I’m sickened but I can’t look away.
I walk to the window and look down.
Her body is a splattered mess.
Her limbs are laid out in horrifying, unnatural directions.
Just then, Miranda’s eyes pop open.
She looks straight at me.
I gasp and fall backward.
Kyle
No! No! That’s not possible!
Just then a hand reaches out behind me and grabs me.
I nearly jump out of my skin.
Miranda
Now do you understand?
Kyle
No! I don’t understand anything!
Kyle
You died! Again! What are you?
Miranda
I have a special power.
Miranda
I can’t be killed.
Miranda
I’ve hidden it my whole life.
Miranda
No one knows about it.
Kyle
Are you some sort of zombie?
Miranda
No, zombies are dead.
Miranda
I’m very much alive.
Kyle
And what did that note mean?
Kyle
The police said a note was found on your dead body.
Kyle
It said, “No one else can have you.”
Kyle
What did he mean by that?
Miranda’s eyes fill with terror.
Miranda
That note wasn’t meant to be found by the police.
Kyle
Who was it meant for?
Miranda
It was meant for ME.
Miranda
It was a warning for me…
Miranda
That someone else would die next time.
Miranda
Ed said I could never date anyone else!
Miranda
He thought he could kill me…
Miranda
But when he found out he couldn’t…
She caresses my face with her hand.
It has some scrapes on it from the fall.
Just then there’s a knock at the door.
Security
Kyle, are you alright in there?
Kyle
Wait, how do you know my name?
A man with a knife comes toward me.
Ed
No one else can have you.
Tears stream down Miranda’s face.
Miranda
I’m so sorry, Kyle.
And that’s the last thing I hear, until…
Miranda is sitting over me, caressing my face again.
And look around the room.
There’s blood all over the floor.
There aren’t any stab marks.
Miranda
He stabbed you a dozen times.
Miranda
No normal person could have survived that.
Miranda
I think you must be…just like me.
I look wonderingly at my arms, and then at Miranda.
It looks like she IS the one.
Miranda
Who knows what he’ll do next?
She falls into my arms, sobbing.
Kyle
We’ll find him, Miranda.
Kyle
And we’ll make sure he pays for what he’s done.
