A shiver crawled up my spine as I stared at the alluring entrance of the Darling's estate. The mansion that stood before me was ancient looking and had deep gouges along its front side. Ugly green vines had slowly, over the years, crept up the sides of the house making the whole place look like it had been deserted for a long time. A hushed whisper sounded over the grounds as I set my backpack down and dug through it. Several moments later my hand clutched around a crumpled piece of paper. I quickly pulled it out of my pack and stared at it.
"Hello my dear. Can I help you?"
My head shot up to meet the sweet smile of an elderly woman. She had snow white hair that was put up into a beautiful bun. Her eyes were worn from her age but still had the spark of a young woman in them. A long cane rested gracefully in her left hand and she used it to walk over to me.
"Is this the darling estate?" I asked nervously. Her smile faded and she averted her gaze to the piece of paper in my hand. Her chocolate brown eyes studied me carefully and then her smile returned.
"Yes my dear, but it has not been called by that name in many years."
I stuffed the piece of paper back in my backpack and then lugged the pack over my shoulder. "Then are you Wendy Darling?" The woman's hand clutched around her cane tightly and then she nodded.
"So then, they have finally sent you." She replied her eyes showing a hint of sadness in them.
I Nodded. "My parents died two weeks ago in a car accident. They never told me that I had a grandmother who lived in England but when the insurance company looked up my files they found your name on the computer. You're the only family I have left."
"I am sorry." She replied quietly. "Your mother had good reasons to keep me hidden from you. This isn't the greatest place for a teenager to live."
"Can I live with you? I don't care how run down this place looks, I just need a home!" I blurted out before thinking. Realizing my mistake I put my hand over my mouth and waited for my grandmother to scold me for being so rude but to my surprise she chuckled.
"You Americans never did have the greatest of manners did you?" She said laughing. She then turned and started to walk back to the house. I stood there not sure of what to do. "Well, are you coming granddaughter?" She asked looking back at me. For the first time since the accident I smiled. As I walked after my grandmother I did not see the pair of cold, black eyes filled with hate watching me. Nor did I realize that as soon as I became apart of my grandmother's world, my life would be changed forever!