Chapter One

I moved into the house and my father had planned to move in later. He still had work to do and needed to finish up before meeting me. I moved everything in and started getting settled with the help of the maid, Moira, I found her to be so beautiful. Her fair skin, red hair, and supple chest drove me wild. I knew however, my father wouldn't like me pursuing someone that he employed. Soon after I moved in I met Constance, she lived next door and she was a bit nosey. She had somehow found out about me, about my outburst. She told me about a therapist that could help me, a therapist who made house calls.

"Is this Dr. Harmon's office? This is Ashley Winchester, Constance Langdon recommended you." I said into the phone nervously.

"This is Dr. Harmon, I'm not currently seeing patients in the office, but I can set up a home visit if you like." He offered. I was hesitant to invite a stranger into the house, but there was a good security system in the house and I knew how to defend myself.

"Alright, any day except Fridays work for me, those are my physical therapy days," I told him.

"How about tomorrow at 2?" He asked.

"That'll work fine," I confirmed. He said he would see me then and I hung up the phone. I decided to take a shower and smoke a bowl, but after I got dressed I couldn't find my lighter. That lighter was a gift from my dad, I always put it in the same place. I searched all over, but couldn't find it. I found a boy in the living room, either in his late teens or early twenties, holding my lighter.

"Looking for this?" He asked, holding it up.

"How did you get in here? Where did you get that?" I demanded.

"You should lock your door." He said, which I found odd because I had locked it before getting in the shower. He handed the lighter to me.

"I saw your stash, you got the good stuff. I wouldn't mind smoking with you some time." He told me and smiled, creepily.

"Why would you just walk into a stranger's home?" I questioned. I didn't want to call the cops unless I had to, it wasn't something I wanted to deal with.

"I knew the people who used to live here." He told me.

"You miss them, is that it?" I wondered and he nodded.

"Ok, you can take one last walk around the house, but then you have to go ok? This is my dad's house, not mine." I instructed. I knew what it was like to miss someone and want to get a chance to say goodbye, even if it was just goodbye to memories. I watched him walk around a bit as I started packing the bowl. I lit it and took a hit and started to relax. I forgot about him and closed my eyes. When I woke up he was there, watching me sleep.

"What the fuck, man?" I screamed.

"Sorry, you're just, really beautiful." He said and smiled.

"Look I asked you to leave nicely, I let you look around. I don't want to call the cops, but if I have to I will." I yelled, feeling scared now. He seemed startled and left. I made sure the house was locked up and called my dad.

"Come on… pick up… pick up." I whispered to myself.

"Hey sweetie, how are things at the new place?" He asked me.

"Weird, some guy just walked in and watched me sleep. I got him to leave and I locked up. I don't really want to call the cops. What should I do?" I questioned, feeling shaken.

"I can call Benny, he is out that way anyway. He can come to stay with you until I can get there." He offered.

"Thanks, dad. Just get here soon, this house it's so big." I sighed.

"I know, I'll be there in three weeks, I promise." He said. We said our goodbyes and I made myself some dinner. After dinner, I went right to sleep, but it was a fitful sleep. I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched.

The following morning Benny Arrived with his suitcase in hand. Benny was a long-time friend of the family, a big burly man with a scruffy beard. I was very relieved and happy to see him. I hugged him tightly.

"It's good to see you, Benny," I said happily.

"Good to be here kid. Been staying at motels for six weeks, nice to have a place to stay." He told me.

"Well, why don't you put your things away and I'll make us something to eat?" I suggested. He nodded and went up to the guest room. I went into the kitchen and pulled out the carton of eggs. Moria walked in, her coat still on.

"Oh morning Moria, we have a guest, a family friend. He'll be staying here with me until my father arrives. His name is Benny, he is very nice." I told her.

"Any friend of yours is a friend of mine." She said and removed her coat, revealing her maid's outfit. That damn maid's outfit was so alluring. I shook that thought out of my head and started cooking as she went about her duties. Benny walked into the kitchen holding the newspaper.

"Did you see this? The deaths a city over? Looks like nest activity might have to call it in." Benny said. "So are you really just ignoring the paper? The phone? The online articles and reports?" He questioned.

"Benny I'm done. Hunting was a lifetime ago. I just want to stay here and help dad relax and get ready to retire." I sighed as I scrambled the eggs.

"Your dad, retire? You know he is too stubborn for that." Benny scoffed.

"I don't want him to die Benny, and I'm worried if I don't get him out he will." I huffed.

"Your old man is the toughest son of a bitch I've ever met," Benny assured me.

"Yeah, but that's what they said about Sam." I reminded him, sadly.

"Your uncle died saving kids, there is no nobler way to go," Benny told me.

"Eggs are done." I changed the subject and plated them.

"So how is the physical therapy going?" He asked as he put some pepper on his eggs.

"I'm doing ok with it, it hurts, but I'm working through it," I said as I started the coffee maker.

"Well, you don't have to worry about her. She is in jail, I saw them cuff her personally." He told me. I nodded and sat down. I felt like I needed to smoke again.

"By the way, my therapist will be here for my first session around 2," I informed him.

"Ok, I can make myself scarce for a bit." He agreed.

Once we finished breakfast I went up to my room and got dressed for the day. Then I went outside for some air, that's when I saw Constance walking over.

"Here we go," I muttered under my breath.

"Hello dear. I saw my boy Tate poking around here yesterday. I do hope he didn't bother you." She said as she stepped into the yard. I thought for a moment and raised my eyebrow.

"That was your son? He scared the shit out of me." I told her.

"He doesn't mean any harm dear. He just doesn't have many friends. Would you mind being his friend? You're close to his age." She asked.

"I guess that would be ok. He wanted to smoke with me, would that be ok?" I wondered, not wanting to give him pot without his mother's permission.

"Oh of course, if you didn't give it to him, he'd just get a hold of it another way. He is a good boy, just misguided." She expressed as she puffed on her cigarette.

"Well, I know what that's like. I had it rough during my teen years." I sympathized.

"Was that when it happened? Your little public freakout?" She questioned.

"Yes, it would have been around that time." I sighed. Who was this woman? How dare she judge me for something I had no control over? "But Constance, I promise I'm of no danger to myself or anyone else," I assured her.

"Oh, I know dear. You're a fluff ball, I'm sure when not under the influence of that insanity strength you couldn't hurt a fly." She laughed under her breath. She was really starting to get on my nerves.

"Well I hate to end our conversation Constance, but I need to clean up the sitting room before the doctor arrives." I lied, Moria kept it spotless.

"Well, you do have a shitty maid. Alright, I'll see you later and tell that big burly man friend of yours not to be a stranger." She smirked.

I went back inside and grabbed my bong. I heard some rustling from the other room and saw a tuft of blonde hair.

"That you Tate? I just spoke to your mother. You don't have to keep breaking in, I'll be friends with you." I announced. Poor kid, with a mother like that, no wonder he was a little fucked up.