time: wednesday morning

day: june twenty fifth, ten minutes before dawn

(Awake.)

(My eyes open to the sound of an annoying alarm. I reach over and switch it off. I rub my eyes a bit and swing my legs out of the bed, sitting up. I hang my head for a moment. Mia stirs next to me, but she doesn't wake up. I rub her shoulder a bit and get out of bed. In boxers and a shirt, I make my way to the kitchen.)

(I grab a glass out of the cabinet and fill it with water from the refrigerator. I turn around and lean back against the fridge, taking a rather large gulp of water. Suddenly, I look above the glass to see someone outside in my backyard. A man with long hair, skull cap, and trenchcoat. I immediately recognize him. He's standing twenty feet from the window outside, breathing heavy, and a bloody knife in his right hand.)

(The horror hits me. I run through the patio doors outside. He disappears, but I find my daughter Alexia lying on the ground. I run to her, but it's too late. She's covered in blood from her head to her waist. Her throat had been slit. It begins to rain, and my eyes fill up with tears. I put pressure on the wound and try to find a pulse. I perform CPR, but nothing works. I pound her chest, trying to shock her heart.)

(Again. Again. It feels like I'm breaking her ribs, but I don't care. I just want her back. I start to yell for her as her life slips away. I look up into the sky, and yell as loud as I can.)

time: three am

(Awake.)

Mia: "Matt! Matt! It's okay, it's okay. It was just a dream, baby."

(She wraps her arms around me, but I reject her. I slide out of bed, in complete shock and horror. I stagger back and fall against the wall and black out.)

time: nine am

(Awake.)

(I'm lying on the couch, a bag of ice on the side of my head. Mia is in a chair next to the couch, rubbing my hand. I move a bit, and her eyes automatically meet with mine. I smile, probably the nicest thing she's seen all morning.)

Matthew Engel: "Hey... how.. how long was I out?"

Mia: "Six hours... more or less. You had me so worried, Matthew. I... you need rest. I'll leave you alone."

Matthew Engel: "Please don't leave."

(She smiles. The light shines through from the windows and reflects off her beautiful face.)

Mia: "Okay. Alexia is staying home from school today... we didn't want to leave you."

Matthew Engel: "Thank you."

(Her smile is replaced by curiousity.)

Mia: "Do you remember what happened?"

Matthew Engel: "Unfortunately."

(She waits for me to finish, but I don't. She looks away, disappointed.)

Matthew Engel: "It's not something I'd want to--"

Mia: "Tell me, Matthew. I can handle it."

(I let out a heavy breath and then look into her eyes. Her tenacity is admirable.)

Matthew Engel: "I woke up at dawn, like I always do. My alarm had the same annoying sound... I walked into the kitchen for some water, and saw him outside in the backyard. I ran out there... and Alexia was lying there. She was dead, sweetie. There was nothing I could do... I.. I wanted to--"

(She lunges at me and gives me a hug, kissing my neck. I can hear her start to cry, she obviously didn't want to hear anymore. I kiss her on the cheek and rub her back.)

Matthew Engel: "I'm sorry. I promise you that won't happen. Okay? That's why I got the Masters."

Mia: "I believe you..."

(She cries even harder. I'm filled with sadness and anger... an anger that drove me to destroy in the past.)

CONTINUE.