Becka

Daniel hated moving.

He had hated it the first time.

He had hated it the second time.

And now, as he sat in the back seat of his mother's car watching the familiar city disappear behind them, he was beginning to think that moving was one of the worst inventions humanity had ever created.

His headphones were on, but there was no music playing.

He wasn't really listening to anything.

He was just wearing them so his mother would stop talking to him.

"So," his mother said from the driver's seat, "are you excited?"

Daniel stared through the window.

"No."

His mother laughed.

"At least pretend."

"I'm trying."

"You've been staring out that window for forty minutes."

"I'm pretending really hard."

She shook her head.

"You'll like it."

Daniel finally looked at her.

"You said that about the last house."

"And you liked the last house."

"For about three months."

"That's still something."

Daniel sighed and went back to looking outside.

The city was slowly disappearing.

Tall buildings became smaller buildings.

Smaller buildings became houses.

Houses became farms.

And eventually, even the farms became less common.

There were more trees now.

A lot more.

Daniel lowered one side of his headphones.

"How far?"

"About twenty minutes."

"You said twenty minutes twenty minutes ago."

His mother smiled.

"This time I mean it."

Daniel didn't answer.

He looked down at his phone.

No messages.

No notifications.

Nothing.

He opened his group chat.

There were several new messages.

JOSH: bro where r u

JOSH: are you actually moving

JOSH: answer me

JOSH: DANIEL

Daniel smiled slightly.

He typed:

DANIEL: alive

Three dots immediately appeared.

JOSH: proof

Daniel took a picture of himself sitting in the car.

He sent it.

A few seconds later:

JOSH: disgusting

Daniel laughed.

His mother glanced at him through the mirror.

"What's funny?"

"Josh."

"Your friend?"

"Yeah."

"You're going to miss him."

Daniel stopped smiling.

"Yeah."

His mother looked back at the road.

"I know."

There was silence for a moment.

Then she said,

"But you can still visit."

"That's not the same."

"No."

She paused.

"But maybe this place will be good for us."

Daniel didn't answer.

He knew why they were moving.

His mother had explained it several times.

The new house was cheaper.

Her new job was closer.

The old apartment had become too expensive.

And, most importantly, she wanted a fresh start.

Daniel understood.

He just didn't like it.

He had spent almost six years in the same school.

He knew the teachers.

He knew the streets.

He knew which shop sold the best burgers.

He knew which bus driver always played loud music.

He knew where Josh lived.

He knew where everyone hung out after school.

Now all of that was gone.

The car turned onto a narrow road.

Daniel sat up slightly.

The road became bumpier.

Trees surrounded them on both sides.

"Are you sure this is the right road?"

His mother checked the GPS.

"Yes."

"It doesn't look like there's anything here."

"There is a house."

"Where?"

"At the end."

Daniel looked ahead.

There was nothing.

Just trees.

Then, after another minute, he saw a small wooden sign beside the road.

The paint had almost completely faded.

Daniel couldn't read what it said.

"That's our road," his mother said.

The car turned.

The tires rolled over gravel.

Daniel looked through the windshield.

At first, he saw nothing.

Then the trees opened.

And there it was.

The house.

Daniel stared.

It was bigger than he expected.

Two floors.

Dark gray walls.

A wide front porch.

Several windows on the upper floor.

A chimney.

And a large garden that looked like it hadn't been properly maintained in years.

It wasn't exactly ugly.

Actually, Daniel thought it was kind of nice.

It just looked...

old.

"Wow," he said.

His mother smiled.

"Good wow or bad wow?"

"Normal wow."

"I'll take it."

The car stopped in front of the house.

Daniel removed his headphones.

For the first time that day, he felt a little interested.

He opened the door and stepped outside.

Cold air hit his face.

He stretched.

"Finally."

His mother got out.

"Help me with the boxes."

"I knew there was a catch."

"There is always a catch."

Daniel opened the trunk.

Boxes were packed everywhere.

His mother pointed.

"Take those."

Daniel looked at the boxes.

"All of them?"

"Two."

"That's basically all of them."

"Daniel."

"Fine."

He grabbed two boxes.

One was filled with books.

The other contained random things from his room.

He carried them toward the front door.

The key was already in the lock.

His mother turned it.

The door opened.

A smell of dust and old wood came from inside.

Daniel stepped in.

The entrance hall was surprisingly large.

There was a staircase directly ahead.

A living room to the left.

A kitchen farther down the hallway.

And another room on the right.

"Not bad," Daniel said.

His mother walked past him.

"See?"

"Don't get too excited."

"I am allowed to be excited."

Daniel put the boxes down.

"Where's my room?"

"Upstairs."

He immediately picked up another box.

"Now you're speaking my language."

His mother laughed.

Daniel walked upstairs.

The staircase creaked under his weight.

One step.

Then another.

Then another.

At the top was a long hallway.

There were four doors.

His mother pointed.

"Your room is the second one."

Daniel opened it.

The room was much bigger than his old bedroom.

There was a large window overlooking the garden.

A wooden desk.

A bed.

A wardrobe.

And an old bookshelf built into the wall.

Daniel walked inside.

"Okay."

His mother smiled.

"Okay good?"

"Yeah."

He walked over to the window.

The garden stretched behind the house.

There was an old tree near the center.

It was enormous.

Its branches reached over the grass like giant arms.

Daniel stared at it for a few seconds.

Then he turned away.

"I'm keeping this room."

"You don't have a choice."

"Even better."

His mother left to get another box.

Daniel sat on the bed.

He bounced once.

It was comfortable.

He smiled.

Maybe this wouldn't be so bad.

---

The next three hours were spent moving boxes.

Daniel carried.

His mother organized.

Daniel complained.

His mother ignored him.

It was a system they had perfected over the years.

By six o'clock, most of their important things were inside.

Daniel collapsed onto the couch.

"I'm done."

His mother looked at the mountain of boxes.

"We still have six."

"Six is basically zero."

"No, it isn't."

"It is emotionally."

She laughed.

"You hungry?"

"Very."

"I'll order something."

"Pizza?"

"Obviously."

Daniel grabbed his phone.

"Can I get pepperoni?"

"You always get pepperoni."

"Because pepperoni is good."

"You need to try new things."

"Why?"

"Because there are other foods."

"Name one."

"Vegetables."

"Those aren't foods."

His mother stared at him.

Daniel grinned.

"Joking."

She shook her head.

"Go unpack your clothes."

"After pizza."

"Before pizza."

"After pizza."

"Daniel."

"Fine."

He stood up.

"You're impossible."

"I learned from you."

His mother smiled.

"Go."

Daniel went upstairs.

For the next half hour, he unpacked his clothes.

He put shirts into the wardrobe.

Jeans into the drawers.

Shoes underneath the bed.

Then he opened another box.

Inside were his old school notebooks.

He picked one up.

On the front was a badly drawn picture of a dinosaur.

Daniel smiled.

Josh had drawn it.

Underneath it were the words:

DANIEL IS AN IDIOT.

Daniel laughed.

"Some things never change."

He put the notebook on the desk.

His phone buzzed.

JOSH: pizza yet?

Daniel typed:

DANIEL: almost

JOSH: show me the house

Daniel looked around.

He took a few pictures.

His room.

The staircase.

The living room.

The kitchen.

The garden through the window.

He sent them.

Josh responded almost immediately.

JOSH: BRO

JOSH: YOU HAVE A TWO STORY HOUSE??

DANIEL: apparently

JOSH: that's actually sick

DANIEL: want it?

JOSH: yes

DANIEL: deal

JOSH: when can I visit

Daniel thought about it.

DANIEL: weekend?

JOSH: BET

Daniel smiled.

At least he wouldn't be completely alone.

---

Dinner arrived at seven.

They ate in the living room because the dining room was still full of boxes.

Daniel sat on the floor with a slice of pizza in one hand and his phone in the other.

His mother watched him.

"You're texting Josh again?"

"Maybe."

"You're going to use all your data."

"He has Wi-Fi."

"That isn't how data works."

Daniel stopped.

"...It isn't?"

His mother laughed.

"No."

"Okay."

They continued eating.

For a while, everything felt normal.

Just a mother and son having dinner in their new house.

Rain began falling outside.

Daniel looked toward the window.

The sky had become dark.

"Looks like we're going to have a storm."

His mother nodded.

"Good thing we got here before it started."

A flash of lightning lit up the garden.

Daniel looked toward the old tree.

For a split second, he thought he saw someone standing beneath it.

A person.

Small.

Motionless.

Daniel blinked.

Nothing was there.

He leaned forward.

His mother noticed.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You okay?"

"Yeah."

He looked outside again.

The garden was empty.

Just the tree.

Just rain.

Just darkness.

He shrugged.

Probably his imagination.

---

At around ten, Daniel went upstairs.

His mother was still downstairs unpacking.

He brushed his teeth, changed into pajamas, and climbed into bed.

His phone was charging beside him.

He opened his messages.

Josh had sent him a picture.

It was a terrible selfie.

Daniel laughed.

He typed:

DANIEL: you're ugly

JOSH: jealous

DANIEL: of what

JOSH: my beauty

Daniel put his phone down.

Then picked it up again.

DANIEL: goodnight idiot

JOSH: night

Daniel turned off the light.

The room became dark.

He pulled the blanket over himself.

Outside, rain tapped against the window.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

Daniel closed his eyes.

For the first time since leaving his old home, he felt relaxed.

Maybe his mother was right.

Maybe this could be a fresh start.

Maybe the house wasn't so bad.

Maybe he would make new friends.

Maybe school wouldn't be terrible.

Maybe—

A noise came from downstairs.

Daniel opened his eyes.

He listened.

Nothing.

He waited.

There it was again.

A soft sound.

Something like...

wood scraping against wood.

Daniel sat up.

He looked toward the bedroom door.

It was slightly open.

"Mom?"

No answer.

He checked the time.

10:47 PM.

Maybe she was still downstairs.

He got out of bed.

The floor was cold beneath his feet.

He walked to the door and opened it.

The hallway was dark.

He looked down the stairs.

The lights downstairs were still on.

His mother was sitting on the couch, looking at her phone.

Daniel sighed.

He went back into his room.

Probably the house settling.

Old houses made strange noises.

He got back into bed.

This time, sleep came quickly.

---

The next morning, sunlight came through the curtains.

Daniel woke up at 7:15.

His alarm was screaming beside him.

He slapped it.

Silence.

He stayed in bed for another five minutes.

Then ten.

Then fifteen.

Finally, his mother shouted from downstairs.

"Daniel!"

"I'm awake!"

"You have school!"

Daniel sat up.

He looked at the clock.

8:02.

His eyes widened.

"Oh no."

He jumped out of bed.

He got dressed in record time.

He nearly fell down the stairs while putting on his shoes.

His mother was waiting by the front door.

"You said you were awake."

"I was."

"When?"

"Technically, five minutes ago."

She sighed.

"Come on."

They left the house.

The morning was completely different from the previous night.

The sky was bright.

Birds were singing.

The rain had stopped.

The garden looked almost beautiful.

Daniel glanced toward the old tree.

Nothing unusual.

He walked toward the car.

Then stopped.

"Mom?"

"What?"

"Did we bring everything from the old house?"

"Yes."

"Everything?"

"Yes."

Daniel looked back at the house.

For some reason, he felt like he had forgotten something.

He couldn't explain why.

But he couldn't remember what it was.

His mother called again.

"Daniel!"

"Coming."

He got into the car.

The house disappeared behind them as they drove away.

Neither of them noticed the upstairs bedroom window.

The curtain moved slightly.

Even though the window was closed.

And inside the dark room, sitting quietly on the old bookshelf...

was a doll.

Daniel hadn't seen it the night before.

He hadn't unpacked it.

He hadn't brought it with him.

And he certainly hadn't put it there.

The doll had long brown hair.

A faded red dress.

Small porcelain hands.

And a tiny name written across the bottom of its left shoe.

BECKA.

For a long time, it didn't move.

It simply sat there.

Watching the empty room.

Watching the sunlight.

Watching the house.

Then, very slowly...

one of its eyes opened.

And closed again.

The End of Chapter 1.