THE SEEKER

New Town, New Beginnings

What the hell just happened, I wondered as mom shouted for us to put on our seatbelts. “Kailee, strap your brother in the booster seat! Kai, I said to put on your seatbelt!!” I hurriedly grabbed for the seatbelt but it got stuck. Crap why am I so nervous? Oh yeah, I remember we are on the highway going one hundred and fifty kilometers per hour and we’re also being chased by a cop and two more just joined the chase. And the worst part is my mom is the one driving, and let me add is the worst driver in the entire world.

“Oh, crap now there’s a helicopter?!” I shouted while poking my head through the window to look up at the sky.  “Mom, you gotta step on it,” I instructed as mom puckered her brows in both worry and concentration, and floored the gas pedal. 

“Stop the car and pull over!” We heard a cop say throw a loudspeaker. Now she is going over two hundred kilometers per hour. 

“Mom there's two more police cars,” my sister screamed in a high pitch voice that almost blew my eardrum out. Mom screamed back at her but no words came out, she’s the one panicking more than us because she’s the one driving and also the one that will get arrested if we get caught.

“Now we have nine police cars, a military helicopter, and six police motorcycles trailing our car,” Kailee said looking throw the back glass at the scene behind us. The other vehicles on the highway must be thinking we just robbed a bank or kidn*pped the president based on the scene that’s behind us. I feel as if I’m in one of those action movies I always watch on tv. 

Mom then turned off the highway into a lonely road that lead to the forest. The car started to slow its speed. It was so quiet compared to the fiasco we were currently in. Speaking of quiet, I looked behind us to see that all the cop cars, and bikes, and even the helicopter were nowhere in sight. Where did they go? I thought to myself. 

Turned to take in our new surroundings. The trees were huge and tall and they loom over the road which resembles giant clawed hands about to snatch anything in its pat

After a few more minutes of driving, a huge rusty metal gate came in view.

“I guess this is it?” Mom questioned looking at the GPS wondering if we are at the right place. “Yep, we’re here.” She continued with a huge smile on her face, how could she be smiling, I’m still shaken by the situation we were previously in literally ten seconds ago.  As we got closer to the huge gates you could see the sign “WELCOME TO BLUE VALLEY” but the “WEL” was missing from the welcome, and the blue lights from the sign were flickering so instead you see “COME TO BLUE VALLEY”. I could feel the chills running down my spine but this just made me more curious to find out what lies ahead.  We passed multiple small supermarkets, and clothing boutiques  a small heart-shaped lake which will literally take your breath away, farms with di that had red juicy apples, grapes, and oranges, there were vegetable farms also with tomatoes, peppers, and lettuce I could see more crops in a symmetrical line extending to a couple more acres, you could see barns with live stocks moving about they were so far away you have to squint your eyes to make out what was actually there. When we went further into the tow we stalls, huts, and houses. The people looked cheerful and wore light-colored clothing and huge straw hats which they tilted as they greet each other. They also traveled with umbrellas and kept glancing at the sky as though the scorching weather would change any minute. The streets were littered with lone dogs searching for scraps and early autumn leaves. As we neared the housing scheme, it was like the entire atmosphere changed. We could see all forms of modern two-story fenced houses, with neatly cut lawns, gardens adorned with brightly colored flowers, and some vegetables. The entire scheme looked immaculate and elite. Except for the daring forest that created a semi-circle around them.

I opened the car door and stepped out on to the stone path lead towards the front door, there were heart-leaved bergenia on opposite sides. I used my hand to shade my eyes from the blaring sun in order to view our new house properly. It seems to be at 150 degrees and rising, I check the time on my phone to see it is only 3 pm and the sun is boiling me alive, this temperature is nothing compared to living in Calgary, I don't know why we trade the cool autumn air and freezing winter for this desert discussed as a town. I then decide to go explore our new home, the view of the house was astounding, there was a flower garden with all different kinds of exotic flowers such a dandilians, daylilies, red and pink roses, and some I have never seen before, there were tall palm trees that sit right at both ends where the huge black gates meet and some running alongside the walls. I as I went to open the front door of the house, I heard my mom outside directing the movers truck that had our things, on where to park so they can unload our things, while I went to explore.  It’s a modern two-story house with five bedrooms, four-bathroom, two kitchens, and a minibar, along with a huge backyard with a four feet high pool. It’s a huge step up from what we previously lived in, so I didn’t really complain much about having left, but I’m still a bit angry about leaving the place I grow up in and all my friends.   

I went to grab my bags from the car and to choose a room. I decided to take the one with a balcony and a huge window overlooking the forest that's located right behind the house. If I need to sneak out sometime in the future I can use it to my advantage.  

“Ahh finally you’re back, I was wondering if you were lost or something.” I heard my mom say as I opened the car door. Kailee and Aris were nowhere to be found, they must've gone inside.  

“Have you chosen the room you wanted already? I want the one with the balcony second to the master bedroom.” Kailee stated as she came out to meet me with our bags. 

 “Kails, you do realize that all the rooms have a mini balcony attached to them? So you’re gonna have to be a lot more specific.” I replied while rolling my eyes with a small smile as she took her bags and went inside. For the rest of the day, we tried unpacking the most essential things we’ll be needing for the night such as bathroom accessories, kitchen equipment and utensils, clothes, and so on, just until we get time to really unpack.

 Instead of preparing something to eat, we went out to a local diner we passed on the way in, to get diner. It seemed to be the town's most popular place, as we could see persons coming in and out of the diner as we neared the entrance, it was small and cozy and sits between a flower shop and a clothes store with a grand park across the street. As we entire the diner the welcoming aroma of freshly baked muffins and brewing coffee knock the air right out of us, it gave you the feeling of when you’re sad and your parents gave you the most amazing cookies and milk to lighten up your day. A small smile appeared on my face as that memory fades. It took us a while to find a place to sit since it was a bit crowded. It seems to always be filled with exotic energy, mainly because it’s the perfect place for a friendly gathering, romantic dates, social brunch, and family get-togethers. 

There were mostly families seated here eating and enjoying their meals, you could also see teens with their friends and some middle-aged adults waiting to collect their pickup orders. Everyone here looked so happy and peaceful though, they all seemed to be in their own little world.  We finally found a small table at the extreme back of the dinner, I was busy scanning the menu to realize that the waiter had come to take our order.  

 “Welcome to Granny's Kitchen. My name is Azura, what can I get you?” I heard a calm feminine voice ask, it was so stern, sweet, and demanding at the same time it instantly compelled me to look up and see the person it came from. Before I was a beautiful petite girl with hair as red as blood, emerald eyes as the deepest coral you’d find yourself lost in, and pale skin as if she hadn’t been in the sun for months, she looks to be around the same age as me. She gave us a sweet smile as she wrote down what my mother and sister were ordering. When she turned to take my order it took me a while to realize she was waiting on me to order. I quickly averted my eyes from her and turn to check the menu my face laced with pure embarrassment, I cleared my throat trying to look casual, man why do I feel so nerdy mentally face palming myself. I finally decided on what I wanted after finally getting over my embarrassment. I looked at her and flash one of my signature smile that would get any girl to their knees in seconds, I saw a small blush creep up her cheeks and I knew I had her under my spell. I mentally gave myself a high five for such a great recovery.  “I’ll have the American sandwich and a coke please,” I told her as she tried writing down my order, I could see her hands slightly shake as she wrote it down. She left after repeating the order to ensure she got everything correct and told us our food will be out shortly. Kailee scooted closer to me with a huge smirk on her face.

 “What?!” I asked taking out my phone to reply to some messages I got earlier. I’ve received a lot of messages and calls, how did I not notice this earlier, and my phone was on me the entire day.  “She seemed nice?” She said while nudging me on the shoulder.  

 “Yea she does, now shut up,” I replied, she say up straight while laughing and I just shoot my head.   

About twenty minutes later the Azura came back with our meals. Her name’s so beautiful and fits her perfectly. She placed our food and drinks in front of us, we thanked her and she left. I saw that Kyles ordered the same thing, as Mom and I ordered a famous bowel for Aris, the famous bowel consist of mashed potatoes, small bits of chicken, sweet corn, and gravy, while mom had a cheeseburger.   

After we finished eating and paid our bill we all walked out of the diner to head home. Mom couldn’t stop talking about how amazing the food was and that we’ll go there again to have some family time once we’re all settled with the house.  We were a few feet away from the car when an old woman dressed in raged clothing stopped in front of us. Her hair was a dull brown color that was turning to grey it was styled in a messy braid that draped around her shoulders, she was wearing a dark grey cape that seemed as though it was once a light blue color.   “They know you're here.” She said in a croaky hoarse voice. It was dead on scary, it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand. I could tell mom had the same feeling because instead of standing there questioning the lady about what she just said, mom's hold on Aris got tighter and she sped walk over to the car. Mom hurriedly opens the door the car door, strapped Aris in his seat, and ushered us to get in quickly. We could still hear her repeating the words over and louder, passerby and those who were in the parking lot turned towards her and then to us as we pulled out of the small parking lot and onto the road.

 I could see that mom's a bit shaken, I guess she took what that old lady said a lot seriously. To me, she only looks like a homeless person in need of some help, she looks like someone my dad would help in a heartbeat, at the thigh of my dad my mood feel and sadness suddenly took over, It has been almost three months and it felt like just yesterday we were sitting in our living room receiving the most devastating news ever, the sound of the car’s alarm shook me from reliving a painful memory, I then realized we were home and I opened the car door and head inside without saying a word to anyone.  

It was almost 8 pm, so I headed upstairs to take a shower and head to bed early. I went into the adjoining bathroom in my room and took a short shower, I got out and throw on navy blue shorts and a T-shirt. I turned my boombox on and set it to shuffle once it was connected to my phone, I turned it all the way down so the noise wouldn’t disturb anyone. I went to close the window that lay opposite the bed, I stared out at the scene of the forest. The forest looked scarier than I once thought, the trees had little to no leaves, as they loomed over each other like they are about to have a war, the darkness seems to call out to you as if daring you to enter it was both delightful and spine-tingling. I was about to close the window when something shift near a huge oak tree, well I think it is oak, and for a brief second I thought I saw a silhouette figure lurking in the shadows, it shifted and went out of sight, it was so swift I’m not sure if I even saw something there or not. I closed the window and plopped down on the bed, still trying to figure out if I really saw something there or not about I closed my eyes, and with the music lowly playing in the room, I drifted off to sleep.

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