Chapter One
Violet combed through the rental ads on the computer at a furious pace kicking herself that she had waited so long to get her shit together.
She was truly shocked that her publisher had given her a full year to write what was only her second book with the company, she figured it had something to do with her father's doing but at this point she wasn't about to complain.
Her decision to make the move from LA to Maine was Daniel's idea, he gave the argument that it would help with the mood she would need to write the supernatural horror story she had in mind, but in reality she knew it was so he could be close to his family and old friends.
Daniel was aspiring actor but he found that the pressures of constant auditions and rejection didn't exactly live up to the dream he had in his idealistic handsome simple mind.
She still remembered the cold look in his eyes as he threw his duffle bag over his shoulder casually explaining how he never really felt a connection with her.
Gazing past his shoulder Violet could see her sitting in the passage seat...her replacement.
Long silky black hair, golden tan skin a body that she bitterly convinced herself was man made.
It always struck her how easily men had disposed of her, there was never any dramatic angst drawn out discussions of 'It's not you it's me' or 'I'll always have feelings for you'.
But the pain was always real for Violet, the emptiness deep and forever, she could never understand why it was so devastating for her but for them it was as if they were quitting a job they had grown bored of.
Regardless she decided that she would try life on her own for a while.
With the breakup of Daniel still fresh in her mind she found it hard to concentrate on anything.
In fact she found herself feeling the spiral of her past depression looming over her threatening to claim her once again.
Daniel had been the third serious relationship to go south in her young twenty four years, all in the same way, there was always another woman.
Which in her mind meant one thing, the one common denominator that was impossible especially now to ignore was… her.
Her wide lost eyes flickered for a second to the full length mirror amongst her suitcases where she sadly held her reflection.
The multitudes of imperfections glaring, as if illuminating outward screaming back at her proving what she's always known about herself, what her father so coldly often commented on.
Skin too pale, lips far too thin, breasts small not even close to what men desired.
Standing she turned focusing on her long lanky body, raising her thin boney arms the cuff of her sweater pulled upwards revealing the many slices crawling up her arm.
Crimson scars, reminders of past pain, of nights that dragged on endlessly, of moments where she tried to find the courage to just end it…
It was then that her elbow accidentally hit the button on her computer moving to the next house for rent on the screen.
Even though Daniel was no longer a factor she still decided to make the move to Maine.
Desperately needing to get away from sunny LA with its herds of health conscious, blonde large breasted beach going mindless drones that was a constant reminder of everything she wasn't.
Not to mention her father and his weekly visits to interrogate her on her love life, and everything else that he pointed out was vastly wrong with her.
Opting to look further up North than what Daniel had suggested Violet settled on a very small town on the coast.
Seeing that the tourist season was over the prices were more than reasonable, but it wasn't until she accidentally clicked on a small colonial set back from the rocky beach that she felt a strange pull, something drawing her in, as if her eyes were unable to look away she moved closer to the screen.
It was the last house on the realtor's listing, the small blue cottage was miles from town and the nearest neighbor a definitely car ride away.
She figured the low asking price was due to its condition, which to anyone would be a turn off but to Violet she felt it added to its charm.
The outside was surrounded by tall brown grass and warped wooden steps that led all the way down to the ocean.
The house itself looked as if the New England storms had beaten it down with chipped blue paint and shingles missing from the roof.
There was only one picture of the inside, from what she could tell it was the living room.
There were white sheets covering what she assumed was furniture and wallpaper that looked as if it was put up in the twenties.
Dark wood covered the floors and moldings but it was hard to make out the rest due to the dust and almost blurred image of the photo.
What her eyes did focus on was a large fireplace with an intricately designed mantle covered in silver vintage frames with black and white images too small for her make out.
There was no denying that the house had character, in fact it seemed a perfect fit for what she was going through, plus served the purpose of the isolation needed for her to start her new novel.
Leaning back in her computer chair too tired to think any longer her choice was made.
Moving closer she skimmed the tip of her finger over the wooden worn letters that adorned the front door.
Langdon Cottage
One week later
Moody Beach, Maine
Staring out towards the house and the very long walk leading from the road Violet sighed listening to the cab quickly drive off.
With all of her correspondence with the realtor done through the computer she was left on her own to get acquainted with the new home that she would be spending the next year in.
She was used to rude people back in LA but was at the very least taken back by the strange looks and distant cold attitude that the cab driver gave her when she gave him the address.
Shrugging her shoulders she gazed out into the grey sky and crashing white cap ocean that framed the small house.
It did look pretty run down, and from the surprised reaction of the realtor, even by email, she was sure that it had been on the rental market for quite a while.
Starting on her trek to the cottage she chalked his behavior up to the obvious.
Why would a young woman rent an isolated dilapidated cottage in the off season by herself…
Whispering as she stared up at the engraved letters on the front door she pulled out the key from her purse and smiled mockingly.
"Only someone as fucked up as you Violet Harmon… only you."