Chapter 1- The Decision

“We can’t do this to Natalie, Phil… we promised her this would be our last move—”

“Now you know that was a lie, Lynn. How are we going to give her the life she deserves if we don’t work?” The handsome middle-aged man argued, the circles under his eyes highlighting how weary he really was. His voice took on a more gentle tone. One thing he truly hated was making his dear wife upset, for you see, he loved her with all his heart, and she loved him too. “This is a blessing in disguise, Lynn. The house is practically free, and even you can’t deny how lovely it looks. We won’t even have to make a big move anymore, Lynn. Natalie can make permanent friends, there’s a very good school over there… just say yes, Lynn.”

Lynn knew her dear husband was right, but she had a bad feeling about all of this. “I love the whole idea, but it’s just that I’m not comfortable with moving into that house, Phil. The circumstances under which Great-Aunt Martha died in that house are so weird a-and creepy. The house is probably cursed by now, Phil.”

Now Phillip Sanders just had to laugh at that. He just wasn’t a religious person, never had, never will be. For him, evil didn’t exist, there was just good or bad and all that stemmed from how humanity had been conditioned while growing up. “Come on Phil, it’s not funny, this is some serious matter I’m talking to you about.” Lynn admonished hotly, her words cooling the man somewhat.

“Alright Lynn, we can do some kind of cleansing ritual when we get there. Anything you want, my love. Just know that for now, moving in is our best option because the circumstances of Martha’s death has depreciated the value of the house... we can’t sell it, Lynn, so just think about it, alright?” He wrapped his arms around his wife in a hug, breathing in the wonderful smell of her hair.

Lynn was going to come around eventually, she’d see how wonderful this opportunity was.

She just had to.

****

Natalie Sanders was in her room.

She had had a bad day at school, but when doesn't she, really?

She never felt like she belonged there or anywhere or anywhere else for that matter, you know? It was always as if the world was going on without her and she was some kind of outsider looking in.

She didn’t have any friends. To everyone at school, she was just the weird quiet girl with silver blonde hair and striking blue eyes, and nothing she did was ever going to change that.

Perhaps what she needed was a new environment?

No.

She had had a lot of those, and they barely changed anything, but deep down, Natalie knew that perhaps that was exactly what she needed, and right there and then she vowed deep within that should the opportunity present itself, she wouldn’t hesitate to grab it by the horns.

As dusk neared and Natalie headed downstairs to help her parents with dinner, she couldn’t help but feel the tension in the air.

“What’s wrong guys?” She asked. “You seem awfully tense today, no one’s even asking me how my day went, very weird. Is everything okay?”

“Of course everything’s okay, Nat. Come on, help me set the table.” Her mother quipped, effectively managing to evade the young girl’s many questions.

Dinner was a sordid affair. The whole dining room was quiet as everyone dug into their meal of stuffed sweet potatoes.

Conversation wasn’t flowing like it used to, and everyone seemed lost in their thoughts. Natalie tried to ignore the situation and focus on her meal, but it got to a point where she couldn’t take it anymore.

“Mum, dad? Come on. What is it?” Natalie pressed, by now the tension in the room had gotten so thick you could probably cut through it with a knife. The young girl watched her parents share a look as they reached for their hands. “We have something to tell you Nat.” Her mum whispered.

“Yes? Come on guys, just get on with it already. What’s with all the suspense?”

“I’m afraid we’ll have to move, Natalie.” Her dad admitted softly, much to the disbelief of the young teen.

“What? But you promised, dad—”

“I know honey, I know.” Phil cut his daughter off. He could only imagine how she was feeling right now but they were doing this for her… it was all for her own good.

“I know we promised you that this was going to be our last move, but we found a place that is practically free, Natalie. If we take this offer, we’re going to be able to afford working less, and you’ll see us most of the time.”

“Where exactly is this place?” Natalie softly whispered. She didn’t know it yet, but she was slowly warming up to the idea.

“It’s in Tennessee, honey… this very beautiful, close knit town. You’ll fit right in honey, I just know it.” Lynn crooned, but Natalie wasn’t buying it. Crossing her arms, she shot her parents a defiant look. “What if I say no, huh? What if I tell you guys that I’m not buying the shit you’re selling? What if I tell you that I am perfectly fine with staying here, and that I do not want to move?”

“Now you watch your tone and your language, young lady.” Lynn warned. “I get that you’re upset, but it gives you no right to talk to us anyhow you please. This isn’t really up for discussion, Natalie. We have decided on it already, we were merely seeking your opinion—”

“Oh, the very one that doesn’t count?” The angry teen shot up from her seat, “Excuse me, but I don’t really feel like dinner.” She made to leave the dining room but the sound of her mother calling her name stopped her in her tracks. “What now?”

“You should start packing, because the moving truck arrives on Wednesday.” Came the dreaded words. Natalie didn’t say a word, she angrily dashed out of the dining room and up the stairs. It was only when she was safely in her room that she finally let the tears out.