The moving company finally came. Two men helped us get our stuff in the truck - furniture and all. When everything was in the truck, my aunt and I went in the car. I got in the passenger seat, my aunt on the driver's side. The two of us shut our doors and followed the truck.
I relaxed on my seat, seeing car after car going by us until we reached two empty fields on each side of us a few hours later, until I spotted a sign.
Madison Delaware, it read. Guess we're moving to Delaware, I thought, shrugging it off. Great... a new town and a new state. It better beat Maryland...
I should've known...
I glanced out the window, seeing buildings upon buildings. No one was outside, like the town was dead...
It reminds me of Silent Hill. I saw two cops lazily sitting in a police station. Yep, totally dead. A total dead town.
"Aunt Sarah, is there any place other than this?" I asked, looking ahead.
"What makes you say that?" she answered with another question.
"I don't know..." Shrugging, I searched for another thing to ask. "We could've gone with Pennsylvania..."
"No."
"New Jersey?" I said, seeing a woman all by herself on a bench, a drink in one hand, waiting for a bus since there's a bus stop sign.
She shook her head. "Nah."
"Ohio?"
"Too far in my book, Ezzy."
I wanted to say more, then thought nothing of it. It's a new life chapter for me. Maybe things will be a lot better...? I highly doubt it...
We arrived at a neighborhood - a quiet neighborhood. No one is outside. It's like the small town. Dead.
They should change the name to Dead Delaware instead.
At least no one will bother me.
Aunt Sarah stopped the car, parking it. I peered over to see the house. It was small compared to the large one with a fence, separating this one and the other home next to it. I undid my seatbelt, forcing the car door open. I breathed in the scent of...nothing.
I slammed the car door shut, seemingly to admire the new home in front of me. Like it was mocking...
I began to walk up to it when I felt like I was being watched... I turn in time to see one of the downstairs curtains being closed.
Weird... I swore I saw someone in the house. Mm, well, as long as they don't bother me, I won't bother them. How hard is that to ask?
I got out of the way when I saw the movers coming their way with the bedframe for one of the beds.
Wanting to help out, I went and did so. My aunt followed the two men with a couple of boxes. I got my own, hefting them up. One was heavy, the other light probably filled clothes or something else.
Carrying the boxes, I was almost to the door, when the bottom part fell open, a ton of shirts, which had been folded up, are now on the ground. Nice, going Ezzy. Your new chapter started off well.
I was about to gather them up when I heard someone. "Nice," the person, sounding female, commented straightly. I stopped to see a girl about my age. "Are you one of the new neighbors?" I avoided my gaze from hers. I wasn't used to people talking to me other than my aunt and her friends. "May I know your name?" the girl continued to ask. I stayed quiet, flipping the box that had the shirts in it the other way. "Shy one?" I wouldn't say I'm shy... but okay. "Well, I'm Hannah," she introduced herself first, seeing I wasn't going to say anything.
"...Ezzy..." I went next, stuffing the shirts in the box.
"Nice name," the girl, known to be Hannah, commented, "Is it short for something?"
I pursed my lips together. "...yes."
She laughed. "Tell me, then. I want to know your full name; I'm curious."
She seemed kind... I hesitated for a few seconds, then answered. "Esmeralda...it's short for Esmeralda..."
"People call you Ezzy?" This Hannah person is also friendly. I can tell from her voice. Though, I won't be tricked again like those kids had done to me...
"...Yeah, my aunt and her friends do."
"What about your parents?"
I felt a pang in my heart when she mentioned my parents. "...I don't want to talk about them..." I muttered, lifting the boxes up. I turned, took two steps, then stopped. "It was...nice meeting you..."
"Nice meeting you too."
"Hannah, what are you doing?" I stood by when I heard someone else, sounding male. She slipped away, along with a wave. I would wave in return, except the boxes are in the way. I went to make my leave when I saw someone else - a stout man with slick black hair, wearing black clothes, and thick, rim glasses, also being black.
He stared at me, however, he didn't say anything... At first.
I froze, unable to break away from his look. I felt a chill maneuver from my spine, unable to break his eerie stare... He reminded me of someone I know all too well...
I took a step - when the second box split open, this time my books fell out onto the ground.
Awesome job, girl. I began to sweat. I wanted to panic. Part of me wanted me to forget about the books and go inside. Another said I should pack them up.
I put the boxes down for the second time, gathering up the novels. Turning my head, I saw the man was still staring at me.
He kept his eyes on me while I gathered up the paperbacks.
Is he ever going to stop looking at me...?
Books all put away, I mustered the courage to say something. "Hi... I'm one of your new neighbors..."
"Notice the fence, young lady?" I looked at the fence and nodded. "Good, stay on your side of it. Come over my fence, we're gonna have problems - got it?" He didn't give me a chance to reply when he closed the curtains. It was then replaced by the window going down, and...being locked...
I stood there for about a minute, trying to process what he had instructed.
Shaking it off, I went into the house.
The house inside is bigger compared to the outside, I saw, setting the boxes down on the kitchen counter. I saw the movers bringing up a mattress.
My aunt was busy putting the kitchen stuff away in the new cabinets. I put my elbow on the table, resting my chin on my hand. "I saw our next door neighbors," I announced unexpectedly, getting her to stop what she was doing.
"Wonderful," she smiled, closing up one of the cabinets she is occupied with. "I would like to know their names."
I bit my tongue. "One of them is Hannah... I have no clue what her dad's name is. He's eerie."
"You know it isn't nice to judge others," Aunt Sarah strictly replied.
"I wasn't judging," I responded, almost bickering. I removed myself from the counter. "...he told me to stay on my side of the fence..."
"Why would he say something like that?" I merely shrugged, unknowingly what to say about it. "You can ask if you and his daughter can hang out..."
"No, aunt Sarah," I declined, a little quickly. "I don't think he wants her to have friends."
"I find it hard to believe." Opening up a drawer, she began putting the silverware away. "A lot of people want to have friends. Even get into a relationship." She smirked at the last part.
"Dream all you want." I rubbed the back of my head. "I'm a little tired," I told her.
"But you only brought two boxes in."
"I know."
"How about we finish up? Once the movers are done helping us, you can take a nap."
Thinking about her suggestion, I agreed.
By ten thirty, everything was unpacked and put in their proper places. My aunt went to the store to buy groceries for our new home.
I laid in my bed in my new room. The walls are bare. I saw my bookcase full of my books.
I breathed out, going to my side. My window was open, my curtains not moving. I can see Hannah's house on this floor. Does she have any family relatives besides her creepy father? I wondered to myself. And...why did he want me to stay on my side of the fence? I mean, I don't mind. I can respect his property...although...before Hannah slipped away from the window, her demeanor had switched like a candlelight going out...
I sat up, thinking. Isn't she allowed to have friends? Is her dad...hurting her...? I shuddered at the thought of it.
Laying back down, I shut my eyes, awaiting for my morning nap to take over...
