"Here we are!" My mom said gleefully as our blue Ford Escape pulled into the driveway of our new home.
I pulled my hair behind my ear and looked out of my window. The house looked.....used. But whether I liked it or not, this was our home now.
My name is Katie Pacosky. I'm 17 years old. I have long light brown curly hair with blond highlights and blue eyes. My family just moved to the town of Dark Falls. We moved because of a job offering my dad had gotten in this town. It was good because this job was offering a lot more money, which we kind of needed.
That didn't mean that I was ecstatic about the move though....I had just lost all of my friends from back home. Not that we couldn't talk over text or social media or anything, but I would miss the genuine face to face connection with them.
"Well what's everybody think? She's a real fixer upper huh?" My dad smiled.
"Yeah dad.....you said it." I replied half-heartedly.
"Hey come on now. Cheer up, you're going to love it here. Just wait till you see the inside of the house." Dad consoled.
I didn't say anything back, I just sighed and took a box from the car into the house. My 22 year old brother Josh followed me inside with his own box.
Upon entering the house there was a musty smell wafting around the inside. Probably because it was old. The style of the house looked old as well, kind of vintage. I gave myself a small tour, learning where the kitchen, bathrooms and bedrooms were.
Shortly after, the movers arrived with our furniture. I picked myself out a room and helped the movers decorate it. I also aided mom downstairs in the living room with where everything should go. She normally came to me for advice like that.
When the movers left I went back upstairs to go see how Josh was getting along in his room. He was sitting on his bed, texting his friend Mike.
"Hi Kate." He greeted.
"Hi Josh." I replied.
"Everything set up downstairs?" He asked.
"Yup. Everything's in its place." I answered.
"Sweet." Josh said.
"So what do you think so far? About the house, the town, the move?" I questioned.
"I'll admit, it's going to take some getting used to. But I think we'll be ok. This place doesn't seem too bad. What about you?" Josh sighed.
"I don't know yet. I'll let you know my answer after my first day of school tomorrow." I spoke.
"Yeah that's usually a big deciding factor." Josh agreed.
"I just want to be able to make some friends." I said.
"Well that's never been a problem for you before. I'm sure you'll make lots of new friends." Josh assured.
"...Thanks Josh." I smiled.
I left Josh's room and went downstairs where mom and dad were talking to the real estate salesman. Mr. Jaws or Dawes or something like that. I told mom and dad that I was going for a walk to check out the neighborhood.
Walking down the street I took into account how all of the houses looked kind of old. Must just be an old town. I passed the school on my walk. Thoughts of how tomorrow could go flocked into my mind. How do the people in this town dress and act? Was I going to stand out?
Normally I don't really care what people think of me, but I also liked to make a good first impression.
I continued my walk when I got a text. It was from my best friend Kayla.
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'You make it to your new house ok?'
I texted back:
'Yeah everything went well, walking around the neighborhood now. Everything looks so old and run down here.'
A minute later Kayla replied:
'Glad to hear everything is ok. It must just be an older town?'
I answered:
'I guess so. It's kinda creepy though. And I don't see anyone out on the streets. Odd because it's a beautiful day.'
As soon as I hit send on that text I heard a sound from in front of me. I looked up quickly. There was somebody coming out of the woodland area down the road, next to the cemetary. It was a boy who looked to be about my age. He wore a dark green shirt and overalls and sneakers.
He had dark brown hair that was somewhat messy and yellow-greenish eyes. They almost seemed to glow.
The boy approached me with his hands in his pockets. His voice welcoming.
"Hi there. Never seen you around here before. You must be the new girl that moved to town." He greeted.
"Yeah we just moved in today. How'd you know?" I asked.
"Everyone in towns been talking about it. We don't get many new families here, so you guys are kind of the hot topic at the moment." The boy explained.
"Oh ok." I replied, smiling a bit.
"I'm Will by the way. Will Blake." The boy spoke.
"I'm Katie." I answered.
"Nice to meet you Katie." Will smiled.
"You too Will." I said back.
A few moments passed and neither of us said anything. Not until I spoke up again.
"So, what do people do for fun around here usually?" I questioned.
"Well all the kids in town have their own tastes. Me I mainly hang out in the swamp back there." Will explained, pointing behind him to the woodland area.
"There's a swamp in the cemetary?" I asked.
"Not in it. If you go beyond the cemetary gates the woods leads into a swamp. That's where I spend most of my time. A few kids do hang out in the cemetary though. A couple of my friends." Will responded.
"Interesting. I'm sure I'll meet them tomorrow?" I assumed.
"Probably yeah. I can even introduce you if you want." Will offered.
"Thanks! I just really want to make a nice first impression tomorrow. Since I'm the new kid." I explained.
"I'm sure everyone will warm up to you. Most of us are pretty friendly. But just in case, I'll help you out tomorrow." Will assured.
"Thanks so much! I'd really appreciate it." I smiled.
"It's no problem." Will replied.
"Well, I should probably get going. My parents are probably expecting me back at home. I'll see you tomorrow?" I waved.
"Seya." Will called.
Back at home my parents were in the kitchen cooking dinner. Josh was in the living room watching tv.
"Hi sweetie, how was your walk?" Mom greeted.
"Good, I met a boy my age." I answered.
"Oh good! What's his name?" Mom asked.
"His names Will Blake. He seems nice. He offered to help me around tomorrow." I explained.
"Well that was nice of him. See, now this place doesn't seem so bad." Dad teased, nudging my arm.
I glared playfully at him.
Dinner was served shortly after that. We all ate and talked. Afterwards I went up to my room and sat on my bed. It was against the wall under a window that faced the street so I watched the road.
Leaves fell from the trees in swirls. I followed one swirl with my eyes until they fell upon a tree branch. But my eyes were even more concerned about what was sitting on the tree branch.
In the crook of the tree trunk and the branch sat a human-sized ventriloquist dummy! It had reddish tossled hair and these bright haunting green eyes. He also wore a black suit with a red bowtie and rose, also with some black loafers.
I gasped when I realized that the dummy was looking right at me. I couldn't help but stare back at it though. It was so odd and out of place. What happened next I will never forget.
The dummy lifted up its arm and waved at me.
I yelped and shut my curtains.
On that note I decided it was time for my shower. As I washed myself I sang a couple of my favorite songs to calm myself down from what I had just saw. How the hell did a ventriloquist dummy just wave at me by itself? Pushing the thought out of my mind I finished washing myself.
When I returned to my room I picked out my outfit for my first day at school. Something that screamed 'me'. I was always told that I looked good in red, so I chose a red v-neck and a pair of jean shorts. Keeping it casual.
Before I got into bed later that night I sent out goodnight texts to all of my friends back home. A few responded back with good luck wishes for tomorrow. Boy I need it. My parents came in and said goodnight and closed my bedroom door for me.
I climbed into my bed and pulled up my covers to my chin. I fell asleep a short while later.
