I always knew I was different. Very different from them. 'Them' meaning those happy seven year olds I regret to call my classmates. We have absolutely nothing in common.

They like Barbie dolls. I hate toys.
They like pink, I hate colours.
They like to pretend that they have a lot of friends.
I have but one.
Her name is Mary.

Mary doesn't really like crowds; just like me actually. I hate crowds too. I always feel small and insignificant when I'm standing in the middle of a crowd. They make me feel scared because they all look so tall and when they stare down at me, I feel like punching their faces because it makes me feel so small. Mary would rather stay in her room, dark and enclosed with no lights on. She could sit there for hours, just looking at the dark shadows cast through the curtains. She hates the sun. She says that it is much too bright; too happy for her liking. I cannot help but to agree with Mary wholeheartedly.

We would often go out and play after the sun has hidden itself beyond the dark horizons. Where only the moon shines its light upon us. We would sneak out together, long after midnight, and whisper hellos to our friends hiding under the dirty cemetery soil. I don't quite understand how they like living in such a dirty environment below tombstones. They never speak too. I asked Mary why they stayed there. Mary said that they were happy in their homes underground. That they are like us, outcasts and different from everyone else, so their families threw them out of their homes. They have no lives, no jobs, or proper homes to go to. So they all hid underground, away from this world.

I asked Mary why they ignored me when I told them to come out when I told them I wanted to be their friend. She said that their families have broken their hearts and their trust. They do not trust anyone anymore. I feel sad for them, because I still have Mary. One day, Mommy and Daddy found out about my little escapades in the night. They asked me why I snuck out. I said I went to say hello to my friends. They asked who. I paused, and thought before telling them that I went with a friend.

"Where does your friend live honey? What's her name?" Mommy asked patiently. I knew Daddy was angry.

"She lives on 23 Oakley Street." I said before adding in, "With us."

"With us? Don't play such jokes with us honey. Now tell the truth before Daddy gets really angry. You are in a lot of trouble as it is. What were you thinking? Sneaking out in the middle of the night like that!"

I pointed to the corner of the room, where Mary sat on the little chair glaring at Mommy and Daddy. "Can't you see her Mommy? Mary's over there."

"Honey, stop playing games with us. Tell us the truth!" Daddy said. The way he glared at me, looked very similar to the way Mary was glaring at them. I knew they were all angry. I don't want them to be angry, but they don't believe me! I was angry too. Mommy and Daddy wouldn't believe me. Can't they see Mary sitting next to me now?

Mary's not helping either. She's whispering evil words into my ears.

Kill them.
Kill them.
Kill them.

I shook my head furiously and screamed, "NO! I won't kill them! Stop it!"

I won't.

"Honey, what's wrong?"

I won't kill them.

"Talk to us, damnit!" Daddy said angrily. He said bad words.

I won't kill them. Leave me alone Mary!

"Honey?"

Shut up.

"Listen to me young lady. Stop playing foolish games with us!" Daddy grabbed my shoulders.

Shut up, shut up, shut up!

"Are you even listening?!" Daddy's hurting my shoulders.

"I said shut up!" I shouted, wrenching myself from Daddy's iron grip, running down the white spiral stairs. Go away Mary! Go away! I screamed. I don't want to kill Mommy and Daddy. Go away!

Kill them!

Just like Johnny.

Kill them!

Go away!

I needed to run away. I needed to run before Mary gets her way.

Run!

I could hear Mary's laughter. She didn't sound like Mary. She sounded mean.

Run faster!

I saw Mary standing by the entrance door. By the windows, by the television, by the storage door. I ran away from Mary, I ran into the kitchen. Go away Mary. I pleaded silently as I cried. I grabbed a knife from the sink, it was wet with soap but that didn't matter. Please go away Mary. I don't want to hurt you.

"Honey?" I heard Daddy call out before I hid under the sink and closed the small doors.

I'm coming…

"Honey are you there?" No don't come here Daddy. Run away! Mary's going to get you.

I'm going to find you…

I hid inside and cried, holding the knife tightly in my hands. It was slippery, but I had to hold it tight. Mary could be anywhere.

The small set of doors swung open.

Found you. I heard Mary's gleeful voice.

I closed my eyes.

"Honey?"

I've found you. There's no where to hide.

Kill them.

"NO!" I screamed as I lunged forward and pushed my knife through Mary's body.

Die Mary! I don't want to hurt people anymore!

I stabbed her over and over again. I felt the familiar warm blood spurt out and splatter on my face, on my favourite shirt.

Die Mary! It's all your fault! Die!

I could still hear her laughter, mingled with Mommy's screaming.

"Mary what are you doing?! " My eyes still closed as my head swung in the direction Mommy's voice was coming from. I pulled the knife out Mary's body.

"I killed Mary, Mommy. She wanted me to hurt you." I said quietly. "I killed her."

Mommy pulled me away from Mary's dead body. I didn't dare to open my eyes. I knew there was blood everywhere. Just like when I pushed Johnny off the monkey bars. There was blood everywhere and I ran away.

I killed Mary, Mommy. I thought happily. No one can make me hurt people anymore. Mary was my best friend.

I opened my eyes, and saw Daddy lying on the floor. There was a lot of blood that looked like fresh red paint.

"Daddy?" I called him, as I stepped towards him.

Why'd you hurt Daddy, Mary? Daddy didn't deserve to die. I thought sadly. It's all Mary's fault.

"Why'd you do that Mary?" Mommy cried as she sank to the floor. "Why?"

I heard Mary's laughter.

"Shh, Mary's here." I told Mommy. "She's still alive."

"But honey, you are Mary. My sweet Mary. Why did you kill Daddy?"

"I'm not Mary, Mommy. Mary was my best friend. She made me hurt Johnny."

"Give me the knife honey. We'll go see a doctor, everything will be alright." Mommy said too calmly. Doesn't she know how dangerous Mary can be? Mary has to die! I can't let Mary hurt people anymore.

"No Mommy! Mary has to die!"

"No honey, we'll go see a doctor. Give me the knife."

"NO! MARY HAS TO DIE!" I screamed angrily. Why doesn't she get it?!

"Stop saying you have to die honey."

"I'm not! I'm saying Mary has to die!"

"Honey, stop scaring me. You are Mary!" Mommy said, with tears streaking down her cheeks.

"STOP CALLING ME THAT. I'M NOT MARY!" I heard her laughter again. Shh, be very quiet. Mary's here somewhere. I see Mary. Mary's blocking Mommy.

"Get away from Mommy!" I screamed again as I ran towards Mary, with the knife still in my hands. I plunged the knife into Mary's chest as I pulled it out again.

There was red everywhere.

The blood was dripping from Mary's chest.

Mary's dead now.

Mary's dead.

Mommy, you're safe now.

Safe from Mary forever.

I told Mommy quietly, before telling the dogs barking outside to keep quiet. Mommy's sleeping. Mary tried to hurt Mommy, but Mommy's not dead. I killed Mary. I pulled the knife out of Mommy's chest and threw it away.

Shhh, Mommy's only sleeping.