I am Emily Rose

I'm crying, squeezed in the corner of my bedroom. It's dark and quiet. The sounds of screaming have gone quiet. I can hear footsteps slowly climbing the stairs. They sound heavy and hard. I hold my sob and take a breath. Oh no! The doorknob is turning. My heart is racing a million miles a minute. I am shaking, shivering but too scared to move. It's coming, the monster, it's coming for me...

I wake with a start, covered in sweat and breathing hard. Again, that same strange dream. I don't understand why I keep having these same dreams. They are sometimes different but all with the same ending. The monster opening my bedroom door, but then I wake up.

My name is Emily Rose Heath. I'm a 27-year-old freak of nature. I'm tall with raven black hair, fair skin and the bluest eyes that I have ever seen. I currently live with my best friend, Anna. We share an apartment on 5th Street in London. Anna studies and works at the diner around the corner part-time. I have been working at a vehicle service centre for around 2 years now. I can't say that I enjoy it, but it pays the bills.

I get out of bed and realize that Anna didn't come home last night. She can be a bit of a wild one, so I don't stress about it. I take a long shower and pop two pieces of bread in the toaster. After breakfast, I quickly get dressed for work. I wear a uniform, so it's a pair of black jeans and a red polo shirt with the company logo on the right-hand side. I put on some light make-up, not much, just a little mascara and lip gloss. Right! So, it looks like I'm ready to go. I quickly grab my bag and lock up the apartment.

As I get to the street to call a cab, I notice the same black SUV that I see in the same spot every morning and every evening. The windows are tinted, so I can't see if there is anyone inside. It's just strange because this isn't the richest side of town, and that car says it all about the owner. I ignore it as

always and make my way to the subway. While I'm waiting, I keep having these flashbacks of my dream. I try so hard to understand what it could mean, but I just don't. I get in and make my way to the service centre.

I am greeted by Marcel; he is at the front counter and responsible for checking cars that come for repairs. He's always smiling and makes me laugh.

"Hey girlfriend!"

"Hey you."

"So how was your weekend? I got so drunk and ended up banging some girl that I don't know. It was so much fun!"

"Ugh! Why do you keep doing that?" What a man whore. "Mine was ok. I didn't do much, stayed in and watched series."

"You have to get out more girlfriend. You're missing out on life you know."

"Thanks, boyfriend, but I'd rather remember who I've slept with."

"Boring! Where's the fun in that?"

"I have cash slips to sort out. Talk later?"

"Sure thing, girlfriend."

He is so weird.

Next, I walk passed Bianca. The bitch of the company. She is always so rude and thinks that she's better than everyone else. I try to keep my distance so that I don't lose my shit with her in public. Oops, too late...

" Oh, you're here, why am I not surprised?"

"Hey Bianca. Umm, maybe I'm here because I work here?"

"Obviously! I need those cash slips urgently. I wouldn't stand and chat with your boyfriend all day if I were you."

Ugh! She is so annoying. Always putting people down and getting her nose where it doesn't belong. If only I could find proof that she's been getting it on with the manager. That'll keep her quiet for once.

"Hi Emily, I brought coffee."

"Oh great! Just what I needed. Thanks."

Thats Tiffiny. She is really sweet and always has my back at work. Tiff works in the accounts department upstairs, so I only see her in the morning and during my lunch break. She is about to marry the man of her dreams, Lucas. They've been dating forever, and he finally asked her to marry him. I'm so excited for her. She really deserves to be happy.

I walk into my office and notice a single rose on my desk. This has been going on for the two years that I have worked here. The same thing every morning. The strange part about it, is that it's black! Who would put a black rose on my desk every morning? Is this something romantic or a warning? I look around and no one notices me (as usual). I throw the rose into the trash like I usually do and get on with my work.

It's lunchtime, and I'm going to my favourite bagel cafe to meet Tiff. She had a meeting this morning and has been out practically the entire day. As I step outside the company building, I notice the same black SUV which I see every day outside my apartment building. What's with this car showing up everywhere I go? I ignore it once again and head down to the cafe.

Tiffiny has already got us a table in the far corner of the cafe. She ordered coffee and bagels, such a dear. I take my seat and see that she looks flustered.

"Are you ok?" I ask her, feeling a bit concerned.

"Umm, yeah, I'm fine. Just feel a little under the weather. You know all the wedding plans and stuff going on."

I crease my brow, "Ok, well don't overwork yourself. You'll burn out, you know."

"Yeah, I know. So how has your day been going so far?" She diverts the conversation back to me.

"Nothing special. Bianca just being her bitchy self and Marcel being the pervert that he is." I replied, sounding bored.

That at least made her giggle a little.

We eat our bagels, drink our coffee and then get up to head back to work. As we walk out, I see it again.... parked directly opposite us.... the black SUV.