Chapter 1- A New Beginning

The city was loud. The cars would never stop obnoxiously yelling at each other and everything else just added to the arguments between the vehicles… That is if inanimate objects could argue.
It was easy for the young ballet dancer, Pearl, to completely blank out the world. If her past-self was to see her now, she would most definitely ask how one of the most talented and smartest could have fallen as easily as her rivals in facing her in fencing tournaments did.

Pearl was fed up with the world. She wasn't suicidal in any way, she just felt like she deserved a break. It was nearly two years since Rose died and it was still hurting. The many friends around her had provided support… But it wasn't the same without her, if anything it was getting worse.

"You need to move," Garnet bluntly suggested with a gentle voice, "The longer you stay here… It's affecting you…"

"Where do I go then?" Pearl questioned, she stood rigidly, her arms wrapped protectively around herself, "I can't just move…"

Garnet had begun her explanation, but Pearl just stopped listening. It wasn't exactly her fault, she just noticed something in the corner of her eye. Near Rose's preferred seat and window. So she turned slightly away from her concerned friend.
She could see Rose standing there. her pink dyed hair, naturally curly and large, was flowing in the wind. Despite the windows being firmly shut. Rose turned and smiled back at Pearl, it would have made her heart flutter… If it wasn't so sad.

"Pearl? Pearl!" Garnet snapped her out the trance and just as quickly as Rose appeared, she vanished. Pearl looked back to her friend, neither of them were irritated or angry. They both understood the sorrow that hung in the air, that would cling on to those devoid of hope. Garnet softly sighed, she could understand Pearl's pain after all, and yet she didn't at the same time. Pearl and Rose knew each other nearly their entire lives, Garnet knew how Pearl felt about Rose and with her gone… what she did… It made the sadness unbearable.

"Opal is renting a small house beside the beach, she's giving you a discount…"

"Do you know how far away that is?" Pearl groaned, "It's in a port town isn't it?"

"It's for the best…"

Pearl hummed slightly,

"what about you and Amethyst?" Pearl asked curiously,

"we're gonna still stay here," Garnet chuckled, "Greg needs some help with Steven after all."
Pearl sighed, she was about to begin one of her inner turmoils again… 'why did she choose you?' 'she knew she wouldn't live, did she want to leave a son without his mother?' she pinched herself at that, bad topic, don't question it.

"This will be temporary Pearl," Garnet placed a hand onto Pearl's shoulder, "as soon as Greg has his car wash set up in Beach city we will join you there."

"huh, Beach city?" Pearl smiled breathlessly, "It's not even big enough to be called a city, 'town' and I would understand."

"It's a popular holiday resort."

Pearl sighed again at Garnets intentional, yet invisible, pout, "I'll go start packing-"

"Packing?" A voice entered the room and the door slammed shut. Amethyst casually strolled in, finishing, or rather skipping, college. "You barely have anything!"

"I'm practical, I don't collect junk with no use…" The pale dancer grumbled,

"I heard that!" Amethyst called out as she walked by them towards her room, then shutting it behind her.

"It's her final year right?" Pearl turned back to Garnet, she was met with a nod, "At least she knows what she wants to do…"

"You'll figure it out," Garnet smiled again, "let's get ready, you're moving after all."

—

Pearl was fed up with the world. Perhaps she wasn't suicidal, but anyone would say she was utterly, hopelessly, lost and depressed. The beach was a familiar place to Pearl, it wasn't a place that she went with Rose, but she did have some vague memories here.
The fencer wasn't particularly happy with the place, yet she wasn't unhappy, she was just confused. The port town was nothing like the city, it wasn't radiating with the life that gave her a headache, instead it was more like a pleasant buzzing.
But first concern, sand. Sand!
Pearl grumbled as she walked passed several houses, sand was already sticking to her ankles and her luggage, she isn't even that close to the sea.

"Hey Pearl!" she heard someone call her name, Pearl turned to find a tall blonde running up towards her, the slightly tanned arms wrapped around her, going her a warm hug that felt like four arms instead of two, she knew exactly who it was.

"I know it's been hard for you," Opal pulled back and began walking with Pearl to the house, as her guide for the evening Opal felt it was her duty. She would repeat herself often, Pearl would just kindly nod her head in response.

"I'm rambling again," Opal sighed,

"It's fine," Pearl replied, she never wanted to sound so sad though.

"The amount of times I had to repeat myself to my students has affected me a little too much." Opal chuckled.

Pearl mostly ignored Opal's silence and later ramblings. She was more taken aback by the tranquility of the city, the people looked unique and strangely recognisable. The sea was beautiful as she slowly approached the small house at the edge of the city, startlingly close to a cliff with a light house perched at the top.

The house itself was rather pleasant; a small porch, a few windows overlooking the sea that was nearly at her door and the town that seemed unsettlingly far away.
"I have only some items left here, I'll pick them up once I come back from my trip," Opal stated as she opened the door and entered.

"Your trip?" Pearl asked as she wrestled with her things. Opal soon came out again and helped Pearl carry in her bags. It was rather easy as Pearl packed just as much as someone would when going onto a plane, if not less.

"Yes, I'm going to visit some temples… somewhere… with some colleagues and students."
The fencer nodded absently as she looked round the house.

Pearl seen a blank room with basic furnishings, the only things that stood out was a few trophies on the shelf, a quiver belonging to a bow and arrow as well as a few mats used for yoga in the corner. She analysed the house, noting that the living room connected everything together, a small staircase led to a small walled off bedroom on the left of the entryway. There wasn't a door on top of the stairs, but rather curtains that closed the area to prying eyes. The tiny area under the bedroom was a bathroom, Pearl was surprised at how comfortable the bathroom was, it seemed large with a counter and bath with shower. The kitchen was rather basic, a counter divided the living room from it and had four seats.
The only thing odd about the basic house was the blank empty wall in the back with an elevated panel-like floor board.

"weird right?" Opal commented, noticing Pearl's strange looks and staring, "once, I went down into that basement…" she paused, "I'm definitely, undeniably certain that it's haunted."

"what?" Pearl almost laughed, "you can't be serious."

"Deadly," Opal looked darkly at the panel, "I suggest getting something heavy to hold it down, it opens up at night… and it has to be heavy!"
Pearl wanted to question Opal more, but she had already walked away, a subtle indication she didn't want to talk about the subject.

"Apart from that, the plumbing sometimes acts up and the electricity can go out sometimes too," Opal listed as she read a small notepad she used for reminders,

"wait, plumbing? electricity? it's so modern just- where did you even get this house?" Pearl groaned,

"This house?" Opal paused, trying to remember, "Oh! It was passed down to me, a relative of mine said she bought it from some freaky people."

"F-freaky?" Pearl hesitated, clearly unsure.

"They weren't bad, they just had colourful personalities," Opal smiled warmly, "I think."

"Right…" Pearl muttered, not convinced.

'Just what am I in for now?'