Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or its characters; that right belongs to Hiro Mashima.

Author's Note: This story was inspired by Flathead Lake in Montana. I was on vacation, visiting my family, and drove around the Lake and BAM, right out of nowhere this story hits me hard. And please bear with me, it is my first attempt at a mystery like a story… Not my normal genre of writing.

As the trees flew by outside her old beat-up Chevy truck, her brown eyes took in the shimmer that peeks through the small gaps in the tree line. Lucy smiled wider as she used the crank to roll down her window and inhale deeply of the heavy pine and cedar scent. Knowing that soon enough, she would reach the little town of Lakeshore, feeling her excitement built in her chest. She was still amazed that out of all the bids put in on the house that hers was accepted.

Not that she was going to question her good luck (which was rare as it was) because this was going to be perfect. Something about the house when she saw the listing on CraigsList called to something deep inside her (maybe her soul?) at seeing the three stories tall, knot-pine cabin sitting on a large hill that overlooked the Lake that seemed to be glistening in the setting sun as the trees began to thin, how the water's surface shimmered and drew her gaze again as she turned another steep corner.

This was one of the more mammoth natural inland lakes in the country, and she had done her research after her bid was accepted. It had a lot of lore surrounding it, as well as its fair share of mysteries that were steeped in mysticism. Not that she was one to believe in the occult, but Lucy would respect that it was part of the people who lived around the lake, which was still unnamed. People's beliefs, even if they didn't match with her own, were something she respected. It was one of the most significant spices of life (in her opinion) that made the world a great and very fascinating place.

And frankly, she needed a change of pace away from her old life — a new start to remake herself into a new person, a better person. Her experience in the last few years had been utter shit. Her adoptive father Makarov Drayer had passed on, his grandson finally growing up but still overprotective of her (and still an egotistical ass that tried to control her life), newly divorced from her childhood friend whom she found had turned into a cheating prick. Though she hoped they could still be 'friends' on very loose terms. Not that she didn't love him, but a part of her couldn't handle he cheated on her. Why it bothered her so badly confused her much.

Lucy shook her head to clear away the negative thoughts as she turned another corner, climbing up a small incline brought the little town into view. This site of it had her sucking in a breath at how rustic and old school it looked. The Town was well over three hundred years old, and it looked like they were still about a hundred years in the past compared to the rest of the world, except for the sight of lights shining through windows, telling her that there was electricity.

She was slowing down as she neared, not wanting to be speeding as she watched the few people walking along the roadside, or along the wooden slatted walkway before the various stores and buildings and noting that they seemed to stop and stare openly at her. It was a bit disconcerting, but the woman she had bought the Cabin from had warned her that they didn't really like outsiders much, so her moving there would be a huge adjustment for both her and the residents. Which Lucy had assured the woman, Ul was par for the course for herself. Since she was shuffled from place to place at a young age after both her parents were killed when she was but six or seven.

The town was more extensive than she thought as she doubled back trying to find the road that she would need to get up to her new home. Deciding to be smart, she pulled up in front of what looked to be a general store from the 1800s and turned her truck off. Sliding out, she didn't even bother to lock it; something told her that no one would want to steal her beat-up piece of junk from the 1970s. Grabbing the envelope and small map she had used to navigate, she walked into the store. Letting her eyes wander around and take in everything, appreciating how they kept it maintained without obviously changing anything.

"Miss?"

Lucy flushed a bit and let her eyes land on the short, gray-haired woman behind the counter who looked up at her with beady (only way to describe them) eyes. There was something in the woman's gaze that had Lucy feeling on edge as she walked to the counter. Putting on a polite and friendly smile, Lucy laid her map and the envelope from Ul on the counter, displaying the address.

"I am sorry to bother you. But I am trying to find this address," she said. "I just bought the Cypress Hill Cabin a few months back and got everything finalized."

What little sound from the other patrons in the store vanished as an eerie silence settled, leaving Lucy to wonder what she said wrong?

"You are the one that bought that old place?" the woman asked.

Slowly, Lucy nodded her head. She was meeting the woman's dark gaze head-on, not ashamed.

"I see. Guess that the old stories were true," the woman mumbled. "Well, you get back in your truck missy and head straight on the road you just came back down, a mile out of town you'll see a dirt road that will lead you up to the hillside and the cabin."

There was no malice in the woman's words, but Lucy got the distinct feeling that the woman wanted her gone from her store.

"Thank you, Mrs.?" She said, trailing off realizing that the woman never gave her name.

"Obaba," the woman said. "And be careful, that place is a curse, child. Though, I think… no never mind. Get you gone, so you aren't driving that road after dark."

Dipping her head in a nod of acquiescing, Lucy flashed the woman a smile, told her good-bye and left the store. She felt a bit put out at hearing it stated so openly that the place was cursed. Again, she didn't believe in stuff like that. Hell, she didn't believe in Gods or Divine beings. When Lucy reached her truck, she saw that several people were standing on the other side of the road, clustered together in a small crowd, watching her with curiosity and wariness — waving a hand in greeting, while the other opened up the door. Lucy couldn't help but wonder what she was missing?

Climbing in and starting the engine, Lucy enjoyed the deep rumbling purr that came from it as the pistons started moving, before pulling the door shut and buckling herself in. Then with another wave, as she pulled out of the parking spot, Lucy followed the directions of Obaba and found a dirt road that would lead her to her new home — already feeling the tension that had built inside of from the general store dissipate as she made her way up the steep, winding road to the place that was all hers.

TBC!