Chapter 1
4:45pm
This room sucks. Its so dull. The cream coloured paint is peeling off, the king size bed is so dusty its making my allergies kick in. I look around and see a big portrait hanging above the bed. The portrait is so dusty as well that I can’t see the colour of the clothes. I go take a step towards the portrait to get a closer look and see it’s a man, a woman…..and a kid. The man in the portrait is wearing a button down shirt which looks to be white, some jeans and a belt. His hair in the portrait is slicked back and his eyes hold….disgust. The woman on the other hand, she is wearing a beautiful what seems to be a knee length dress, with black flats. Her hair looks amazing though. Her hair is in a tight braid and her eyes hold love and joy. The little kid is wearing a playsuit and some boots. The kid’s hair is brushed over and his eyes hold joy and playfulness. I tear my eyes from the portrait and feel a nice summer’s breeze. I look towards the window and notice it’s smashed. As I’m looking around, I notice I can’t breathe. I feel like someone is choking me! I have to get out of this room, no better yet! This haunted house! I pick up my backpack, put it on and force my legs to run. I run down the old, creaky and burnt stairs and make my way out. As I get to my black SUV, I feel someone’s hand on both my shoulders and pull me down to the ground. My body flings down and I land on the ground with a massive thud. Tears well up in my eyes as my back start aching in pain. I move my long, chestnut brown hair out of my face before standing up again. I get my car keys out and open the door. I take my backpack off and throw it in. I run over to the driver’s side and hop in. I start the engine and speed off. No wonder no one goes to into the Whitesmith house after the dreadful fire that happened 2 years ago. As I turn the corner out of the drive way my phone starts ringing. I pick it up and the voice of my best friend comes over the Bluetooth speaker.
“Girl where are you?” My friend Cassidy asks me
“Cassidy not now” I reply still freaked out.
“Morgan what happened? Don’t tell me you went back to the Whitesmith house again” Cassidy groans over the speaker.
“I just want proof that the house fire was an accident” I explain
“The police reports said the kids caused it by accident” Cassidy tells me for the millionth time already.
“I just don’t believe it” I sigh. “Look Cass, I gotta go”
“Morgan DON’T go back” Cassidy warns me. I roll my eyes before hanging up.
20 minutes later
5:05pm
I get back to my apartment and notice the door is open. I open up my backpack and get out my flashlight. I open the door carefully and quietly and notice my apartment was the same as I left it. My purple coloured walls are the same, my small kitchen is the same, and even the water droplets on the sink I left from this morning are still there. I look towards my small but comfy lounge room and notice….my older brother Kyle sleeping. I put down my flashlight on the kitchen counter and drop my backpack and it makes a loud bang. Kyle shoots up from the couch and looks around frantic. His eyes make contact with me and his eyes hold relief.
“Kyle why are you here?” I ask annoyed
“Mum and dad kicked me out”
“Again? Kyle you need to stop being so lazy and actually help them out” I lecture him. He rolls his eyes before asking
“Please can I stay here?”
“If you clean up after yourself and do not disturb me while I do my work” I say before walking towards my bedroom. I open the door and walk in before closing and locking it. I walk towards my big walk in closet and picking up a long sleeved shirt and some track pants. I grab them and walk into my own bathroom. The marble floor greats me along with the white walls. The way how my bathroom is set up is that my toilet and sink are on one side with a small sailor’s window above it, my bath tub/ spa is in the back corner while the shower is by the door. Above the sink is also a big mirror. I see myself in the reflection and I look horrible. My chestnut hair is messy and knotty, my grey shirt is muddy and my favourite blue jeans are ruined. My skin looks bad as well. I’ve got mud and dirty all over me along with a cuts and grazes that I never once felt. I turn around and turn on the shower. I get it to the perfect temperature and I just take an hour long shower.
One hour later
6:05pm
It’s been an hour and I finally get out. I wrap a big, black fluffy towel around my body and I change into my fresh clean clothes. I walk out of my bathroom with my blue hair brush in my hand and I start combing my hair. I walk in the kitchen and see smoke.
“What the hell Kyle!?” I shout. I drop my hair brush and grab a tea towel. I start waving under the smoke detectors to get it clear. Kyle just stands there stunned as the smoke slowly starts clearing.
“I wanted to do something nice” was all Kyle said. The smoke cleared and I stop waving. I turn towards Kyle and give him a glare.
“Just order something” I say before putting the tea towel away and walking towards the stove. I get what he was cooking and throw it away. I clean up his mess and make a note to not let him in the kitchen.
“Morgan I ordered Chinese” Kyle says as he enters the room again. I just nod my head before sitting on one of the bar stools. I put my head in my hands before groaning in pain. My back is still killing me.
“I’m going back” I whisper to myself before stretching my back out. I hear my back crack it relives some of the pain.
“Morgan you alright?” Kyle asks me. I look up and meet his eyes. His eyes hold a lot of concern. I give him a soft look before nodding my head.
“Just a hard day at the office” I reply. You see, my family thinks I work in the most corporate business but in reality, I try and figure out mysteries that the police can’t solve. That’s basically my job. I mean, I get paid really well its just…I wish my boss knew the danger he’s putting me through. I swear he thinks it’s a game to see how long before I die!
“Where is your office exactly?” Kyle asks out of nowhere.
“Kyle why do you care?”
“Just mum and dad see the cuts and bruises on you whenever you visit. They thought that your boss was beating you”
“No Kyle. My job is harder to explain” I say out of nowhere. Dammit!
“What do you mean? You told us you work in an office” Kyle says
“I don’t work in an office” I groan in annoyance
“Where do you work?” He now questions.
“Kyle I’m like an investigator. I work for the police when they can’t solve. They call my boss, who calls me and I go try and investigate. I don’t quit till I found out” I tell him. Kyle looks at me stunned before saying quietly
“I knew it”
“You knew!?” I shout at him.
“Yes. I followed you before I came here” Kyle tells me
“What the f-“ I go to swear at him before my phone rings. I get my phone and see my boss is calling me. I give Kyle the hold-a-minute finger. I answer the phone and he says
“Morgan you need to go back to the house tonight”
“Why?”
“Morgan I have a new lead. Just meet me at the house” he tells me.
“Fine. I’ll be there” I tell him
“Good. Bye” he says before hanging up on me. I walk up to my room and close the door. I walk back into my closet and grab my work clothes, which consist of a long black sleeved shirt, dark blue jeans and my black running shoes. I put my hair in a messy bun before walk back downstairs. I grab the flashlight, my phone and backpack.
“Where are you going?” Kyle asks
“Got called in” I say bluntly. I grab my car keys and go to walk out.
“Can I come?”
“No” I say before going to walk out. I turn back around and say “Don’t burn my house down”
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Thank you for reading the first chapter. Please let me know if I should continue this story or not. Feedback is welcomed.
