Chapter Two

Dylan turns to me with a frown... Josh can't turn as he's driving, so he looks at me from the rearview mirror.

"Are you sure you're ok?" Dylan asked.

"You can tell us anything," Josh said.

There's a moment of silence, they both wait for my reply.

"I think I saw something in the woods!"

They both shared a look, and Dylan turns back to me.

"There's nothing in the woods, Stacey...your mind must be playing tricks on you," he said.

"Really?"

"Yeah.. maybe you're still thinking about the nightmare"

Hmm...that makes sense. It must be I'm just paranoid...I need to get that stupid picture off my head.

I reach for my phone and earbuds in my backpack...and begin to go through my playlists.

"How about we resume your therapy sessions when we're settled in New Orleans?" Will suggest.

"No!" I replied.

"Why?"

"It won't make any difference"

"Stacey...."

I ignore him and put on my earbuds and decide to play stuck with you by Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande.

I won’t attend any therapy...I have tried it before it didn't work.

I just hope moving to New Orleans will help stop my nightmares.

After a long torturing drive... Josh finally stops in front of a building.

Josh and Dylan quickly alighted, I also didn't waste any time following suit. Dylan throws his arm around my shoulders and inhaled deeply.

"Stacey, can you feel the peace and quiet this place will bring you?" He asked.

I raised an eyebrow at him.

"We just got here... Who knows if we're gonna move tomorrow!"

He groans and rolls his eyeballs.

"You're such a killjoy!"

I chuckled at his failed attempt to cheer me up and make me love this place.

Be careful, guys.. don't break anything! I heard Josh talking to the movers as they move in our stuffs.

I took the time to study the building... It looks like a portable mansion.

I nod.

My legs find their way to the backyard, to confirm if what Josh and Dylan said is true.

A small smile finds its way to my lips as I saw a small garden of roses and lilies instead.. and a single guava tree with a few guava fruits on it.

This is perfect! I thought mentally.

Maybe they're right, I might not get any nightmares since there are no woods behind.

Someone taps my shoulder and I turn... Dylan and Josh stand behind me... Josh's hands tugged in his pocket and Dylan smiled brightly.

"So.. what do you think?" Dylan asked.

They both looked at me anxiously... waiting for my reply.

I scoffed mentally, they're asking for my opinion now... As if it has ever mattered.

"Do you like it?" Dylan asked again.

I nod.

"Yeah... since there are no woods!"

Dylan claps his hands together and from my peripheral view, I saw Josh sigh in relief... a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"Excellent!" Dylan said.

"The movers are done, let's go in and check the rooms!" Josh said.

Dylan takes my hand and pulls me along... I hope the inside won't disappoint me!

"Wow!"

I couldn't help but awe at the beauty I'm seeing... Honestly, this house is ten times more beautiful than our previous house.

It's got high ceilings and high french windows... Let's just say I can't describe the interior in full, because I'm pretty bad at descriptions!

Wait... I need to get a room with a window facing the garden.

I turned to Josh with a smile... He studies my expression and sighed.

"Fine... It's that one over there!" He points to a room.

He already knows what I wanna ask... He doesn't need me to tell him.

I rushed there but not before yelling.. "Dylan! Bring in my luggage!"

He groans but I hear him pulling my luggage along.

I enter the room and rushed towards the window... I opened it and smile as I breathe in.

The garden is right outside my window... I saw two butterflies, flying around a flower.

"Well, it seems you really like this place now!" Dylan said from behind.

I rolled my eyes.

"Dylan I only like the garden!"

"Oh!"

"Yeah!"

Josh clears his throat and calls our attention.

"Well, Stacey, Dylan and I have something to discuss... we'll leave you to unpack and settle in!"

I nod.. wanting them to leave. But my stomach growls loudly and I remember we haven't had any food since morning.

Dylan looks at his wrist watch.

"Josh, it's already lunchtime... Stacey and I will go for groceries shopping first"

I slaps his shoulder.

"Grocery shopping?!"

He nods.

"I'm already so hungry and you're talking about grocery shopping?!"

He nods again.

"Can you say something other than nodding?"

He chuckles lightly.

"We'll go buy groceries and Josh is gonna cook for us!" He said.

I rolled my eyes for the hundredth time.. what a bunch of caring brothers I have.

I throw my backpack on my new bed and keep my storybook inside... Seeing my storybook, I suddenly remember something.

I stand up abruptly.

"What about school?"

They both frown.

"School?" They asked at once.

"Yeah.. when am I resuming school? This is my senior year, I can't slack off"

Dylan laughs.

"Relax.. Josh didn't forget you're a nerd..."

"I'm not a nerd!" I cut him off.

He nods frantically.

"Right, right....!"

"I found you your new school and talked with the principal last night... You're resuming tomorrow!" Josh said.

I nod... At least they're not gonna delay my studies. I turned to Dylan.

"Dylan, you'll go the grocery shopping alone...I wanna unpack and get my things ready for tomorrow"

"No!" Dylan and Josh said at once.

I furrow my brows together.

"Ok... You're both acting weird!" They both have a scared expressions.

"Weird? We just don't want to leave you alone in the house" Dylan said.

"I'm not alone, Josh is gonna be here"

"Josh... he...."

"I'm visiting one of my friends" Josh cuts him off.

"Your friends?"

He and Dylan nod.

"You have friends here?"

They nod again.

"Since when?"

They both exchange looks and Dylan nods at Josh... Like they just had a conversation telepathically.

"Remember I came here some time ago for business?" Josh asked.

"Yeah?" I replied.

"Well, I made a few friends then... Now that I'm here, I must check on them!"

Hmm... It's confirmed... Their acting strange.

Could it be my nightmares are taking a toll on them and they've gone… Loco?!

"Come on, Stacey... I'm starving, let's get moving!" Dylan said and grabbed my hand.

He turns to Josh.

"Extend my greetings to your friends!"

Josh nods… While Dylan pulls me out.

Walking down the streets with Dylan is a crime now! I mean, all the girls are glaring daggers at me... I guess they're thinking I'm his girlfriend.

I shake my head mentally... If only they knew I'm his younger sister!

Ok, enough of the girls’ talk... I noticed something else.

The people in general... Elderly ones... Men and women… They all seem to be giving me a disgusting look... like I'm carrying some kind of disease.

They're murmuring among themselves as we walk past them... I pulled Dylan closer and whisper in his ear.

"What's going on? Why are they staring at me like that?"

He look around and throw his arm around my shoulders.

"They can hear you!"

"Huh?" They can hear me? How?!

"Just ignore them... I bet they're just surprised to see new faces in their town"

Great! Just great! This is one of the reasons I hate moving!

Dylan stops walking and I raised my head with a frown.

"Let's check out this supermarket!" He said and pulls me inside.

Until now, I have not realized at that that my fate would be changed in this strange city.

And these dreams in the dark night would come to my life, literally.