Chapter 1:

The Arrival

I was sat in a Maths lesson, scratching random words of graffiti into the wooden desk. My teacher was rambling on about some equations or something equally as boring. It was a scorching hot Wednesday afternoon, but there was a large mass of dark clouds slowly making their way across the sky.

“Jason! Are you paying attention?” Mr. Clarke screamed. I lifted my head and looked around the room, everybody was staring at me.

“Erm…Yes sir” I said fearfully.

“Then what did I just say?” He asked, knowing full well that I hadn’t listened to a word he’d said all lesson.

“Erm…Erm…” I began. At that moment, Miss Maine came through the door; she was a small, mouse-faced woman who worked in the school office. She had a habit of wearing very ugly dresses and outfits that didn’t compliment her looks. Today she was wearing a bright green dress with blue flowers dotted all over it. I often wondered where on Earth she found such monstrous items of clothing. I noticed she had a piece of yellow paper (possibly a post-it note) clenched in her left hand.

“Where is Jason Wright” She asked, in her high pitched voice. Everybody continued to stare as I raised my hand.

“We just got a phone call, I think it was your father, he needs you to go home immediately, a taxi has already been paid for by the school” She explained. Wow, I thought, the school was actually paying for something.

I didn’t question her, I just gathered up my things and left the room, everybody stared at me like a freak in a circus as I trudged out of the room. Within minutes of arriving at the office, the taxi pulled up outside. Miss Maine gave me a smile as I left the building, I didn’t bother to smile back, I was too busy pondering about why I was suddenly being summoned home. Miss Maine hadn’t said a word to me on the way to the office, she just her nose into the air and ignored me.

I got into the taxi and placed my bag on the seat next to me. The driver was an old man from what I could tell, he had thin wisps poking out from beneath the Fedora he wore on his head. I caught a glimpse of him in the rear-view mirror. He had several scars on his wrinkled face.

“So…” He said joyfully, “How are you, me lad?”

“Fine” I said glumly “You?”

“I’m very well, thank you” He replied. When we arrived outside my house I quickly scurried out of the car. The driver may have been friendly, but there was something I didn’t like about him; I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, maybe it was his slightly sinister appearance, or the Fedora (Which reminded me of Freddy Kruger, a character who had haunted my dreams since my mum first allowed me to watch A Nightmare On Elm Street when I was four). The first thing I noticed was my dad’s car; I found it a little strange, my dad was supposed to be at work. I looked down at my watch, ten-thirty-five, yes; he definitely should have been at work.

I looked over my shoulder and waited for the taxi to drive around the corner before stepping foot in the driveway. Once it had disappeared behind my neighbour’s wall, I walked down the sloped driveway and into the patio. I took a deep breath and prepared myself for the worst. Perhaps Mum had hurt herself or been in an accident. I turned the door handle and entered the house. Unaware of the horror I was about to face.