New House, New Neighbor, Same Bad Luck
chapter-1
New House, New Neighbor, Same Bad Luck
There are three things I hate about moving.
Packing.
Unpacking.
And people who say, “You’ll love the new place!”
No.
I won’t.
I already know this because I was currently standing in front of a house that looked like it belonged in a horror movie.
Okay, maybe I was being dramatic.
Maybe.
The house wasn’t exactly creepy.
It was just... old.
Really old.
The paint was slightly faded, the garden looked like it hadn’t seen a pair of gardening gloves in years, and one of the upstairs windows was covered with a curtain that moved even though there was absolutely no wind.
I stared at it.
The curtain moved again.
I frowned.
“Okay. That’s normal.”
Probably.
Behind me, my mother dropped a box.
“Emy!”
I jumped.
“What?”
“Stop staring at the house and help me!”
“I’m emotionally preparing myself.”
“For what?”
“Death.”
She rolled her eyes.
“Very funny.”
“I try.”
I grabbed the nearest box.
It was ridiculously heavy.
“What did you put in this?”
“Books.”
“Of course.”
“You love books.”
“I love books. I don’t love carrying an entire library up three flights of stairs.”
“It’s two floors.”
“Emotionally, it’s three.”
She laughed.
I dragged the box toward the front door.
And that’s when I noticed someone standing across the street.
A guy.
Black hoodie.
Hands in his pockets.
Messy dark hair.
He wasn’t doing anything.
Just standing there.
Watching.
I looked behind me.
Nothing.
I looked back at him.
Still watching.
Great.
First day here and I’d already found the neighbourhood’s unofficial security camera.
I raised an eyebrow.
He didn’t move.
So naturally, I waved.
He stared at my hand.
Then at me.
Then walked away.
I lowered my hand slowly.
“Wow.”
I looked at my mother.
“Friendly neighbourhood.”
She didn’t even look up.
“Who?”
“The guy who just walked away like I personally offended him.”
“Oh. That’s Zayn.”
“You know him?”
“He’s your neighbour.”
I stared at her.
Then at the house beside ours.
Then back at her.
“You’re kidding.”
“No.”
“That guy?”
“Yes.”
“He’s my neighbour?”
“Apparently.”
I sighed.
Fantastic.
Absolutely fantastic.
I had moved across town, left all my friends behind, and somehow ended up living next door to a human rain cloud.
Perfect.
Just perfect.
By six in the evening, my room looked like a cardboard-box graveyard.
I sat on the floor surrounded by clothes, books, chargers and one sock I had no memory of owning.
My phone buzzed.
BELLA
Bella: YOU ALIVE???
Me: Unfortunately.
Bella: Dramatic already?
Me: I met my neighbour.
Bella: 👀
Bella: Is he cute?
I stared at the screen.
Then typed.
Me: Annoying.
Bella: That’s not what I asked.
Me: He looks like he hates humanity.
Bella: So... cute?
Me: Bella.
Bella: Emy.
Me: Stop.
Bella: You didn’t say no.
I threw my phone onto the bed.
“Unbelievable.”
My phone buzzed again.
Bella: SEND PHOTO.
Me: Go away.
Bella: Coward.
I smiled despite myself.
Typical Bella.
My best friend could turn a funeral into a gossip session.
I picked up my phone again.
Me: I’m going to unpack.
Bella: Boring.
Me: Bye.
Bella: Love youuuu.
Me: Sadly, same.
I put my phone down.
Then I heard it.
A knock.
Three slow knocks on my window.
I froze.
My bedroom was on the second floor.
I slowly turned around.
Nothing.
The curtains moved slightly.
My heart skipped.
“Okay...”
I stood up.
Maybe it was a branch.
Maybe.
I walked toward the window.
Opened the curtain.
Nothing.
Just the dark garden below.
I exhaled.
“See? Nothing.”
I closed the curtain.
Then my phone buzzed.
I nearly screamed.
I grabbed it.
Unknown Number.
Unknown: Don’t open the window.
I stared at the message.
My stomach dropped.
I typed.
Me: Who is this?
No reply.
Me: How did you get my number?
Three dots appeared.
Then disappeared.
Appeared again.
Then—
Unknown: Ask your neighbour.
I slowly looked toward the window.
My fingers went cold.
There was someone standing in the garden.
A tall figure.
I couldn’t see his face clearly.
But I knew that hoodie.
Black.
I stepped closer to the glass.
“Zayn?”
The figure looked up.
For a second, our eyes met.
Then he turned around and walked away.
My phone buzzed again.
Another message.
Unknown: I told you not to open the window.
I looked at the window.
I hadn’t opened it.
So why did the message sound like they knew exactly what I was doing?
And more importantly...
How the hell did they know I was looking at Zayn?
I didn’t sleep much that night.
Not because I was scared.
Obviously not.
I was just...
...strategically keeping my eyes open.
There’s a difference.
At least, that’s what I told myself.
But at 2:13 a.m., I heard something downstairs.
A soft sound.
Like someone opening the front door.
I sat up.
My room was completely dark.
I checked my phone.
2:13 A.M.
Another sound.
A quiet click.
Then silence.
I reached for the lamp.
Before I could turn it on—
My phone lit up.
One new message.
Unknown: Don’t go downstairs, Emy.
I stopped breathing.
I had never told them my name.
And then another message appeared.
Unknown: Because this time, Zayn won’t be there to save you.
I stared at the screen.
Save me?
From what?
I slowly looked toward my bedroom door.
It was open.
I was certain I’d closed it.
And from downstairs...
I heard someone whisper my name.
“Emy...”
I didn’t move.
I couldn’t.
Because the voice didn’t sound like a stranger.
It sounded like someone who already knew me.
End of Chapter One.
