Chapter 1
The fire roars tall and strong, wood being piled high to keep the flame ablaze in the small of the clearing eleven robbed figures emerge from the woods trailing behind another figure, dressed in black wrist bound together. The eleven form a half circle around the fire, the last figure stands alone the hood obscures the view of their face the others remove their hoods the dark red fabric cascading down to the ground.
“You stand here today charged with using dark magic that could expose us to the outside world, how do you plead?”
A key turns in a lock, and the click signals an opening to a new life, he walks into his new home. Dust swirls in the air creaking from the old wooden floor beneath his weight as he walks in the musty smell envelops his nose. The deeper he walks the more he finds, the door swings open wider a bright-eyed smiling face pops into view she looks around at the house and then back to the new owner.
“Well it may be a bit of a fixer-upper but it’s worth the price great bones and even better looks when the dust is cleared.” the realtor beams acting as though she has not just sold him on a massive project house with more fixes than its worth.
“I guess your right” the man sighs as he keeps exploring the old house.
“Well, then I will just get going if there is nothing else call me if you have any issues with something dear.” her overly sappy sweet voice floats down the hall a slam of a door is heard.
Sweat beads on his forehead as he moves the last boxes into the house before nightfall making his way up the stairs to the last bedroom on the right he half drops the box from exhaustion. Laying on the mat he set out hours before as a makeshift bed, rolling over he drifts off into a fitful sleep.
Morning shines through the windows, casting its glow onto the room the warmth of the sun chasing out the unusual chill of a June night. Sleeply stumbling out the door, he heads the the kitchen forgetting he never unpacked any items from the day before. Turning to head up the stairs once more a movement catches his eye, walking closer he moves down the long darkened hallway. Stopping at a shape on the wall covered over with a sheet, laughing to himself he grabs the sheet lifing until a slip of paper falls out. Scrolled on the yellowing paper he reads Do not remove any covers from the mirrors. Taking a second to think, it must just be some weird prank left by a previous owner. Grabbing again he takes the covering fully off the mirror, finding only his own warn face staring back at his he moves back up the hall reaching for some clothes he continues up the stairs. As he walks up a faint giggling sound comes from the main floor, pressing down on the creaking step again it makes a similar sound, shaking his head he moves along determined to find food and coffee in this little town.
The drive to town is short, the main street lined with shops and in the distance, a cafe. Pulling into the slot he gathers his things moving slowly as the mat does nothing for his back, entering all eyes on him. Waitresses walk back and forth chatting with customers, and regulars it seems as if they look to all know one another well.
“Hi there what can I get started for you.” a sweet voice says from behind as he stares at the menu.
“Oh, um I-I haven’t figured that out yet, what would you recommend?”
“Well that all depends on what kind of coffee you're into, but I tend to like the lattes most, hot or cold their good.”
“Well, then I will get one of those and a ham breakfast sandwich as well thanks.”
“So where are ya from? I haven’t seen you in before so I’m guessing you just passing through town.” she stares at him eyes wide with curiosity, leaning forward over the counter in anticipation,
“Well, I’m from L. A but I wanted to get out of the city, I actually just moved into the house right outside of town, It's a bit more run-down than the realtor told me it was but I do like a challenge.” the woman behind the counter slowly leans back, starting at this new man, her posture becomes stiff and unfriendly.
“Th-Thats not possible, no one has been in that house for years, the last person to live there is said to have gone crazy and killed herself, and we have no relator in this town, who would have sold you the house I don’t know how you could have bought it I thought the town owned the house.”
“Well I guess then they don’t own it, I do now i mean it is a bit weird the mirrors are all covered and there was a really weird note saying to not uncover them but it could have just been that crazy lady you where talking about.” shrugging he takes the coffee, turning towards the door.
“Wait, I don’t know your name?”
“It's Johnathan, what’s yours?”
“I’m Sierra”
