Rain was falling down steadily as our car made it's way down the winding roads. I closed my eyes and tried to imagine it was headed for some far-off adventure, like one in the books that were piled up in the seat next to me. I was headed for the green fields of the Shire, like in Lord of the Rings, or maybe I was on my way to the old castles of Romania to find count Dracula! I could have easily imagined a thousand other places our old family van could be off to, but none of those fantasies would change the fact of were I was going.

"Springwood"

A new town far away from LA, where we used to live. I can tell you now, that I was not the least bit pleased with my parent's decision. Imagine, being ripped away from everything you knew and were comfortable with! It sucks, doesn't it!? The only thing I could find to like about the cruddy town was how much smaller and less crowded it was than LA.

I had never liked the hustle and bustle of the crowds, I preferred a more secluded lifestyle. Even still, I would have gladly put up with the crowds if it meant being back with my few close friends and our after-school hangout. But as we entered the town it finally sunk in ….. the life that I had once known, was officially over!

"Wow! So this is Springwood!?" My mother exclaimed. "Well it looks adorable!"

"Mom, it's just some town, not a puppy." I rolled my eyes as she continued to giggle and coo over how "quaint " the town was. It was "simply fabulous."

I turned my attention back out the window, repressing the urge to vomit. That was my mother for you! More like some teenage prep than a mom! At least my dad was okay! He shared my passion for books, though his love of them had been somewhat dulled by mother, who constantly told him that books were just "fickle."

Stupid woman … I'm sure doesn't even know what "fickle" means. Seriously, how my father could find it in him to marry her, was beyond me!

"Here it is!" My dad suddenly piped up. "Our new house, 1428 Elm Street!"

I looked at it critically.

It was just a normal house. Plain white with a green roof. It was pleasant to look at, but … I don't know, something about it seemed creepy.

I liked it!

"Can I have a room upstairs dad?" I asked.

"Huh?" He mumbled, looking up half-way as he fiddled with the door key. "Yeah, sure honey, whatever you want …." I smirked and hurried in past him when he finally got the door open.

I raced up the stairs and entered the first room on the right. It was white too, just like the rest of the damn house!

"Okay, we're really gunna have to get some color in here!" I muttered aloud. "Or I'll go insane!"

Still, I had to admit, it was a pretty nice room! The black-silled window particularly caught my interest.

I'd have to put my bed right beside it! It'd be awesome to have a full moon shining down upon me at night, like something out of one of those horror/ romance novels!

Then, something outside the window grabbed my attention! It was on a hill off in the distance. A looming figure of what looked to be an old power-plant …. or something of that nature was built on it. I squinted my eyes, trying to make it out better in the still pouring rain. It seemed very old, perhaps rusted?

"What're you lookin' at!?"

I stifled a scream. "Dad! Could you knock next time!?"

"Sorry," he grinned. "Did I scare you!?"

I shook my head. "Not scared, just caught off guard!"

My father raised his eyebrows, but didn't pursue the subject.

"What were you looking at?" he asked.

"Oh, just some old place over on that hill," I told him, pointing out the window. "Can you see it?"

His brow furrowed. "Yeah," he muttered. "Pretty creepy if you ask me."

"I think it's cool!" I smiled. "It's like Dr. Jekyll's lab, or the warehouse where that serial killer was hiding in 'Blood dreams'!"

Dad shook his head. "It's more like a health hazard! It looks like it's about to cave in on itself at any given minuet!" He turned to me, a serious look on his face. "Don't you ever go over there alright!?"

"Why," I asked. "Did something happen there, or what?"

My father suddenly got very quiet.

"Dad?"

"Look, just promise me you won't go near that place!"

"I promise, but can't you just tell me wh--"

"No, just leave it at that okay!" His face was grave and deadly serious. "It's not something a girl your age should have to worry about."

I backed away from him. He was acting really strange!

"Umm, the moving trucks will be here any minuet now. I guess I'll go down to help unload our stuff!" He smiled at me, as if to reassure me that every thing was okay.

I watched him disappear down the stairs and let out a sigh. Maybe this house was going to be more interesting than I thought! For even though my dad was telling me everything would be okay, why did I get the feeling that he was lying!?