Chapter 1
Sevreah Nittall clutched the steering wheel of her old Toyota, her knuckles white against the worn leather. The city skyline of New York was rapidly shrinking in her rearview mirror, replaced by an endless expanse of rolling green fields and distant hills. It felt surreal to be leaving behind the buzzing streets and familiar faces for the quietude of the countryside.
"Are we almost there?" her younger brother, Devon, asked from the backseat, his voice tinged with the boredom of a long drive
"Almost," Sevreah replied, glancing at him through the rearview mirror. His messy hair and impatient fidgeting reminded her of how much had changed in just a few days.They had left their bustling city life behind after their father’s unexpected passing, which had brought them to a family they barely knew. The Nittalls had been estranged from their rural relatives for years, and the sudden move to the small town of Willow Creek was both unsettling and alien.
It felt surreal. The breath of fresh air; there was a creek near their arrival. The water was both clear but cloudy. It felt like they were the only living regiments in the area. It was quiet, with the cawing of birds or the croaking of frogs disrupting the peace ever so often. The road was narrow, expecting almost no turns. It wasn’t bumpy, but wasn’t smooth-sailing either. This was clearly different to their lives in the bustling city of New York. It was quiet and there were barely any people whatsoever.
After what seemed like hours, the car finally rolled down a narrow dirt road lined with tall, whispering pines. At the end of the road stood an old farmhouse, its white paint chipped and weathered but still standing with a welcoming charm. Beside it was a large, well-tended garden, its vibrant flowers contrasting sharply with the muted colors of the house.
Sevreah parked the car and turned off the engine. The sudden silence was almost deafening compared to the constant hum of New York. Max opened his door and stepped out, his sneakers crunching on the gravel.
“Let’s get this over with,” Sevreah murmured to herself as she stepped out of the car. She took a deep breath, the crisp, fresh air filling her lungs and offering a stark contrast to the smog of the city.
