Chapter 2

House of Creeps

"Yes, what do you want?" a cool voice answered my knock on the office door. Swinging the door open Andy glared at me sending a shiver down my spine. Still, at that moment, I stood up just a little bit straight. No way in Hell was I letting this guy bully me. "You must be Lucetta Ra. Come in."

Andy looked about 55 and bitter. His gray hair still held a tint of auburn around the ears and I smiled imagining this cross man a look he gave me

however snatched the smirk right off my face. His eyes were so dark that I couldn't tell where the pupil began. It was just all black. Normally people with red

hair had light eyes, but his cold dark eyes sent a shiver of fear through me. I shouldn't be here with him, I really, really, shouldn't be here with him. He

squinted a single eye almost like he felt the same thing, but that wasn't possible. I've never liked adults and creepy guys like him were especially bad. That was all I was feeling I told myself but once again even I couldn't believe my words.

"Hmm, yes. I just wanted to go over a few rules. The attic and the cellar are 100% off limits. Anyone found in either area will be subject to harsh punishment. Curfew is 8 O'clock, and again anyone found out of the house at that time will be punished. 10 is lights out and if I even hear a noise after that point.."

"The offender will be punished, yeah I kind of got that."

Andy gave me the devil's glare, but I didn't care. I felt like I shouldn't be near him, but when I thought about it I wasn't exactly scared.

"Don't get smart with me young miss. Or you will be punished. I don't care that this is your first day in this country being rude to your elders is considered wrong and it will result in punishment. Understood."

Not wanting to open my mouth and risk another snide comment I just nodded my head and left quickly. Anubis said he didn't like Andy, but I had a feeling I was going to hate him. Just great.

Making my way down to the living room I found myself faced with a brunette girl who looked a lot like me. We both had the same dark hair, green eyes, and even the body shape was similar. I also noticed just how much this girl looked like her lighter haired brother Anubis. This must be Sarah.

"Hi. I'm sorry if A gave you the cold shoulder before. To be honest he does that with everybody. I'm Sarah and this is..." Sarah repeated the names her brother spoke earlier this time giving me a face to go with. Greg had dirty blonde hair and sharp features. Felix had some African blood somewhere down the line. Lily looked like a model/ Barbie curly blonde hair an blue eyes included. Nick's skin wasn't as dark as Felix's, but it certainly was darker than the rest of us. Alice didn't exactly look goth, but her tomboy tastes were obvious in the dark and plain clothes she wore. Personally leather jackets aren't my thing but to each her own.

"It's real nice to meet you all, but I'm going to go unpack," I told them awkwardly. As I made my way upstairs I noticed only the Rutter twins bothered to let their eyes follow me as I went. Whatever.

I unpacked quickly before settling on my bed to read a book about aliens made of light and hybrid humans they created when healing. The series was old, but the YA books from back then couldn't be beat. Except maybe by author Hope Lions, she rocked, but mainly because she wrote her books like it was still 30 years ago.

Sarah came up eventually to tell me dinner was ready, but i told her i wasn't hungry. It wasn't true of course, I was starving, but I felt awkward around the others and decided privacy was best. After a month of everyone wanting to know if I was alright I needed some time without people.

"Hey can I ask you something? I mean if it's not to personal." I was sure it would be far too personal, but considering the fact that Sarah was the only one who'd even remotely acknowledged my existence I would have to answer her.

"Shoot," i told her. After shooting a confused glance Sarah nodded in understanding and asked her question. "How did you get your limp? I've never seen someone our age who looks like she practically needs a cane. Sarah wasn't trying to be rude, but never the less I felt offended. Still I'd promised myself to answer her question honestly.

"I got shot in the leg about a month ago. It's all healed now, but I'll probably limp for the rest of my life."

Clearly that wasn't the answer Sarah had been expecting because she backed from the room without saying anything else. It seemed that even when I tried to be nice and open people felt affronted by me. Nothing I could do now,

By the time Sarah came up from dinner I was pretending to be asleep and suffering from jet lag. What she didn't realize is that I was now 5 hours ahead of what I was at home and therefore not tired. I heard Sarah crawl into bed and fall asleep quickly as if she hadn't slept in a week.

5 hours later I still lie in my bed awake wondering if this move had been a good idea. It didn't matter, I kept telling myself, you're stuck here. Still I wished that wasn't so and I could just go home to my parents alive and happy.

I heard a creak from Sarah's bed as she stood up and walked from the room. Thinking nothing of it I waited for her return until I realized a half hour had gone by. Okay, that was a really long bathroom break. Curiosity might have killed the cat, but I don't care. Sliding my feet into some slippers I wandered out of my room to investigate.