Nicky jerked awake. Her breaths were short and heavy. She was drenched in sweat. She sat up on her couch and looked around the living room. Everything was dark and quiet. Nicky closed her eyes, and she could still see the bodies in the lake. And the face of all the missing girls.

Her heart was thumping. She couldn't get that image out of her mind.

She needed another drink.

Instead, she sat up and rubbed her eyes, haunted by memories of the past.

It pained her heart to remember what had happened, but as she sat there, alone in the dark, she couldn't stop the onslaught of memories.

Thirteen years ago, Nicky was sixteen years old, and Rosie was fifteen. They had been at the mall in their hometown in West Virginia when they'd noticed a man had been following them for some time. A man they'd never seen before, which was odd considering their town was quite small and close knit.

They left the mall near sunset and walked home beneath an orange sky, feeling the summer air warm on their faces.

The man walked far behind Nicky and Rosie, but the girls kept walking, ignoring him. Rosie glanced over her shoulder, clearly anxious. Nicky was growing apprehensive too, but she tried to just look forward, never looking back.

"That guy is still following us," Rosie whispered as they walked.

"Just don't look at him," Nicky said. "We can't cause a scene. And we'll be home soon."

Nicky was sure they could make it just fine. They grew up on these streets; they knew them. This was a safe town, and maybe the man following them just happened to be on the same path. Nicky's instincts told her otherwise, but she didn't want to scare Rosie. She was the big sister. It was her job to be strong.

They crossed into a park behind the mall and kept walking, even though the man was still behind them.

That was when Nicky realized they were alone.

It was a Sunday, and not many people were out.

Then Nicky heard something.

She turned.

The man had a gun.

His face was obscured by his hoodie, but Nicky could see the bottom half was old, leathery, rugged. They were alone in a park with him. Nicky looked around for any sign of help, but no one was there.

Nicky would never forget the terror she felt as she looked down the barrel of that gun. She and Rosie clung onto each other.

"What do you want?" Nicky asked.

"You're the lucky ones, girls," he said.

"Lucky?" Rosie asked.

"You're gonna make it," the man said.

"Make what?" Nicky asked. "Who are you?"

"I'm the man with the power to make all your dreams come true."

Nicky could feel the tightness in her chest--the same tightness she felt now. It was like she was sixteen all over again.