A/N: OOoo, stuff is going on in this chapter! No one is really reading this, but whatever! I still feel like writing it. If you are actually reading this then leave a review, even if you're a guest. Enjoy.
Chereville, Michigan
Jackson flipped a page in his book and continued reading hungrly. He finished the chapter and leaned back in his seat with a sigh, letting the book fold over, but keeping his thumb in between the pages. "Exciting stuff, huh?" asked his mom, smiling at him. Jackson nodded and looked out the window. He saw a sign wizz past, 'Welcome to Chereville' it proclaimed happily. He took a bookmark and jammed it into the binding before closing his book and returning it to his suitcase. "We're almost there honey, aren't you excited?"
"Yeah, I suppose so." The car continued down the road and houses came into view on either side. Jackson's mom took a right turn, causing everything in the car to lean and shift a little. More houses and stores came into view and the car came to a stop in front of a small, blue house with stone support on the corners and a stone chimney on top. Jackson's mom smiled at him.
"See? It's your favorite color!" Jackson nodded and smiled as well. "Come on honey, we got some unpacking to do." She hopped out of the car and walked along to the trunk. Jackson hopped out and followed her. "This is gonna be a great summer Jackson, I just know it."
"Yeah," he sighed, "I sure hope so." The two walked up to the house and jackson's mother opened the door with an iron key. The door swung open and Jackson rushed down the hall, suitcase in tow, to find his bedroom. "Which ones mine?" he called from down the hall.
"The one on the right!" his mother called back. Jackson turned to his right and opened a heavy oak door to find his room. Wood paneling covered the walls and an old wood bed sat in the corner. A leather chair sat at a writing desk and bookshelves lined the walls, stocked full of books. Jackson gasped, throwing his belongings onto the bed and rushing to the nearest book shelf. His mother poked her head in his room. :I take it you like the room?" she asked. Jackson nodded excitedly, eyes scanning the book bindings. She laughed and made her way down the hall to her own room. Jackson turned away from the books and walked over to the bed to unpack his things. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a flicker of white in the window sill. He turned his head and saw a white envelope, resting on the sill. Jackson walked over and snatched it up. Jackson Hallston was written in neat cursive on the front. He turned it around and carefully ripped it open. He withdrew a neatly folded piece of paper and unfolded it to read.
Dear Jackson,
We are most pleased that you have decided to spend your summer here in michigan. We are deeply saddened to hear of your loss. None the less, we hope you enjoy your stay.
Jackson shrugged, there was no signature, probably a letter from the renter of the house. He flipped it over to find more writing on the back.
Town park,
9:30
Be there, we'll be waiting.
He examined the writing carefully. Might as well go, he thought, what have I got to lose?
Chereville, Michigan
Alice and her father's taxi pulled up to a bright yellow house with a red brick chimney on top. "Here we are sweetie!" her father announced. Alice smiled.
"Woot! I can't wait, lets go see the inside!" Her father laughed at her enthusiasm and nodded, paying the taxi cab driver and exiting the vehicle alongside his daughter. "Come on dad!" she cheered, grabbing his wrist and tugging him towards the house. The cab pulled off in a cloud of black smoke.
"Alright, alright. I'm coming sweetie." her father laughed. "Shouldn't you be jet-lagged or something?" Alice shook her head vigorously.
"I don't have time for jet-lag or sleep! There is just too much to do!" she finished dragging her dad to the door and he pulled out a shiny, new looking key and unlocked it, swinging the door open. "WOOHOO!" Cheered Alice, "Where's my room?"
"Slow down there."
"Not a chance! Where is it?"
"Well," he put a finger on his chin and tapped it in thought. "right there if I remember correctly." he pointed towards a door next to the kitchen. Alice squealed and ran over to it, flinging the door open. She scowled and crossed her arms.
"Dad, this is a closet." she proclaimed.
"Really?" her father asked in surprise. "I could have sworn the closet was down there." he pointed to another door further down the hall. Alice ran to it and opened that one as well, gasping and jumping with excitement when she did. The room had bright pink walls and a bed with a bright pink quilt on it. Her father walked over. "Wow, that must be some closet."
"No silly," she gave her dad a shove, "this is my room." He raised an eyebrow.
"You're really gonna stay in there?" he asked, she nodded. "Okay, closet girl." She laughed and gave him another shove, entering the pink room. "I'm gonna go find my room." her father laughed to himself and disappeared down the hall. Alice ran forwards and flopped down onto the bed, spreading her arms out and enjoying the softness. She stared at the ceiling and spotted something on her bedside table. Alice rolled to her side to retrieve it. An envelope with the words Alice Wereville written on the front in cursive. She ripped it open in excitement and read the letter inside.
Dear Alice,
Welcome to Michigan. We hope you like the house, seeing as you will be living here from now on. We are sorry to hear of the loss in your family. We hope you can find a fresh start and a new life here in Chereville.
Alice flipped the letter over to find more writing on the back.
Town park,
9:30
Be there, we'll be waiting.
Must be from the previous owners,she smiled to herself, sounds like fun.
Chereville, Michigan
Makayla shifted in her seat, watching the cabin brow bigger and bigger in the window. The gravel crunched beneath the tires as the car pulled up and came to a stop in front of the cheery building. "We're here!" announced her uncle from the front seat, killing the engine and smiling at Makayla. He opened the door and stepped out, Makayla and her aunt not far behind. Makayla bounced excitedly as her uncle dug out the key and opened the door to the building. They stepped inside and Makayla walked to her room. She opened the door to see the familiar green walls greet her. She smiled and threw her bags onto the bed and sat down for a moment. Canvases and drawings hung on every wall, with her signature in the corner of each. She quickly unpacked her things, placing them in a green dresser next to her bed, and returned to the main entryway. Her uncle stood by the TV, fiddling with the remote and plugging and unplugging various wires.
"Mind if I go out?" she asked. Her uncle poked his head out from behind the TV and he nodded.
"Sure, just be back by 10:00." Makayla nodded, walking into the kitchen and grabbing a sandwich from one of the boxes on the counter. She opened the front door and stepped out into the fresh, woodsy air.
"See ya later!" she called back into the house.
"Have fun." answered her uncle. She closed the door behind her and headed into the woods. It may have seemed weird that her uncle was so trusting, but Makayla was turning sixteen next month. Both her and her uncle believed that meant she was responsible enough to do a few things on her own. Her aunt hated it though, but she didn't care. She continued along the trail that she knew by heart. They came to the same cabin every summer so makayla pretty much knew the forest like the back of her hand. Sunlight filtered through the leaves of the tall oaks and birds chirped over head. Makayla hummed to herself and skipped along. She spotted something on a nearby tree branch and walked over to get a closer look. She stopped humming and peered at it closely. It was an envelope, lodged in the branch of the tree. She plucked it up and looked at it. Makayla Smith was written on the front in cursive. She opened it and read the paper inside.
Dear Makayla,
So you have returned to my domain again this summer? That is all right, I have decided to allow it. I would like for you to meet a few people though, tonight. They will be waiting at the town park at 9:30. Be there.
Makayla scrunched up her face and looked at the paper, flipping it over to check the back, nothing. She turned it back around and read the writing a second time. 'My domain'? What the heck is 'my domain' supposed to mean? She thought to herself. And how the heck did some weirdo know I'd be out here? She shook her head and slipped the note in her pocket, getting the uneasy feeling of being watched. She turned and looked behind her to find nothing there. She sighed, I might as well go.