I was scared, frightened. I didn't want to go there, not now, not ever. What if it all came back? What if there was more...

CHAPTER ONE

The light was slowly fading away from outside, like a turtle walking across the yard. We were getting closer to the place, my place. That place that I had feared so much; that had changed me forever.

Night was coming, I could just feel it. Moonlight was tickling my bare arms. It was only only a matter of time before we would be at the house that would, eventually be the cause of...my death.

Too late to turn back, I opened my eyes to embrace the unbreakable truth. All the memories were racing back at me; the doors creaking, footsteps stalking around, and the window-breaking screams from thin air.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Our blue trailer was rattling more than ever from the uneven road, nobody ever bothering to fix it. That's how it was like in these dreadfully old villages, as ancient as they are.

Dad was sitting at the front of the van, driving. He was wearing some ragged old jeans, covered in paint stains, and his working t-shirt, that had the initials 'JO' standing for John Opal. My dad was the type of guy who painted houses and buildings at work during the day, and watched sports games during the night. I had never seen him in an actual business suit. He was too fun and flexible for that. And I loved him.

Then there was mom. She was like a strict language teacher, yelling at you for every inch you moved, and yell at you until your ears were ringing. She always kept her hair straight and tidy, and she always smelled like a lovely scent of rosy perfume. Her business suit was a navy knee long skirt, and a buttoned up business top. Simple and modern. She would have the occasional laugh, but then order everyone around.

I may still love her, but I will never understand how Rosemarie and John got paired up together.

All our things from our house was stored in here. A small travelling trailer attached to my moms silver van. It may not sound like a lot of belongings that we have, well that’s because it isn't.

Three weeks ago, on a very disasterous evening, my dad was trying to cook some food for me, because mom was going to be coming late from work. It was snowing again, but not snow that was lightly falling to the ground and kissing onto your face, no, it was a blizzard. Heavy chunks of snow were shooting down onto the roads of England. It was one of the worst storms I had ever seen in my short 13 year old life.

Mom had called a few hours after she was supposed to arrive at home telling us she was clogged in a traffic jam. Dad didn't exactly know how to cook very well, neverless did he know how to turn on the oven, so he had accidently turned it on too high, the oven. Leaving the pot boiling for a few minutes to lay down, he fell asleep. The next moment, the whole oven burst into flames as the pot fell and all the boiling water went everywhere.

I was screaming at my dad to wake up, panic was hitting me real hard. Once he did wake up, he said some words that I shouldn't really mention at the moment, and ran outside with me.

It only took a few minutes before our whole entire house had burned down. The neighbours came gathering round in their pajamas, and the fire fighters had tried their best to kill the flames, but it was impossible.

As quick as it happened, we suddenly lost everything. Mom was scared, hopeless, and didn't know what to do. That wasn't like her. She always had a plan...but not this time.

So now we were moving to our summer cottage up here in Glasgow, Scotland. Although it was a bit of a ride, it was all we could do. We didn't need to bring any furniture with us, because the house already had some ( and also because the other furniture had burned down to a crisp).

The trailer was tight, and I was feeling claustraphobic. So many small items that had survived the fire were pushing against me, including the new stuff we bought from a nearby store.

Mom said it wouldn't be too long of a ride, but that's not what it felt like.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I stretched out my arms and straightened my back as we entered through the door. We had never been to this house in ages, almost nine years I think. Dad and Mom came in with a few suitcases and small bags. They dropped them off into the small family room to the right.

I didn't remember how the house looked like so well, since I was only four, so mom gave me a tour around of the house.

There was no basement, so she started by showing me the rooms down here. The family room, like I mentioned before, had three sofas, and a small table in between. Then there was a fireplace and above it was a shelf, with small decorations and nick-nacks.

Then past the stairs was the play room ( it was a big house ) with a t.v, some chairs, another fireplace, and a little rug. Along the chairs was a rack with dvd's and games, and a small tub of legos.

Along that small hallway was a washroom, and the entrance to the dining room, which had a table, some chairs, a cabinet with some awards, ( probably my dad's, he was a big-time football player ) and a computer at the end.

The kitchen was pretty big. There was the regular sink, long counters and a dishwasher and fridge. On the walls were little calenders and papers of all sorts. A small coffee table was placed at the end, with a very small television set propped against the wall.

The backyard was connected to the kitchen, and it was huge. There was a grass area in the middle, then a small walking area around it with plants growing along the edges of the fence. I didn't remember it was this huge when I was little...?

Once we got upstairs my mom showed me the rooms and my room. There were four rooms, a washroom, and a stairway to the attic. The biggest room was my mom and dad's room, one room was turned into an office room, the other was a guest room, and the last one was a simple storage room.

" Mom, if these rooms are all being used, then which room is mine?" I asked, getting shakey. " Oh honey, none of these are going to be your room. You get your very own room, in the attic." She explained.

My whole body turned numb, my heart felt like it slipt out of place. " What do you mean my rooms in the attic, attic's are dirty with bugs and there used for all your old things, not for bedroom use!" I managed to say. " Don't you remember Kassey? Your room has always been the attic, and this attic is very clean, come take a look."

I knew I couldn't argue with my mom, she was the master of defending. She was a lawyer anyways, so I just followed her up the stairs, sweat pouring from my face.

Inside the room was a sweet little bed, with a flower blanket, and two blue pillows. The window was tilted more to the top, with a matching curtain. Beside the bed to the left was a small box with a few books and bits of paper, to the right was a shoe-stack, where mom had put all my current shoes. There was a dresser to the other side of the room, with a large mirror, and a few drawers lined up against the wall, all scattered with bits and bobs and clothes and stuff.

"Like it?" Mom asked. " Umm...sure. I guess it's alright?" I stammered back. Obviously I thought it was way too small for me, but whatever, I guess I could breathe. It's better than the trailer I was trapped in for five hours. My mom took out my PJ's and set them on the bed, then she looked back at me with a concerned face. " I'm sorry it's not that big" what a mind reader... " but you'll have to live with it at the moment, I promise it will be better soon, now get some shut-eye alright?" I nodded my head in response. "Okay".

Once mom left the room, I looked around a bit. Almost everything was wrapped with dust. There were no bugs or creepy crawlies, which was good, but that wasn't what I was worrying about at the moment. It was the noises and whispers I was scared of... the drawers slamming shut and back open, the curtains of the window folding up and back down, the images of...before I could start thinking about that, I jumped into bed and tried to stop myself from scaring...myself? Looking into the small box to the side, I found a good book and started to read until I tired myself out to sleep.

*************************************************************