The Other Side

Chapter One

I was sitting in the back of our family car listening to music and playing on my iPad. "Alexandra, you better not be on that iPad." Mom said sternly reaching back from the front seat and ripping it from my grasp. "Hey, I'm not down with that!" I shrieked loudly crossing my arms and kicking dad's chair. "Young lady don't you dare kick my chair!" Dad said loudly as he turned the steering wheel to the right. I rolled my eyes then said, "I just don't see why we have to move to an old abandoned house in the middle of nowhere, I mean does the thing even have wifi connection?" I glared into the front mirror at my father, he didn't notice. "We're moving here because you spend way too much time on your electronics and we think this will be a great way to get you active and moving." Mom replied with a smile. I rolled my eyes. Were my parents serious? Don't they know that the only thing that gets me moving is a cute boy or one of my favourite magazines. I was so tired of my parents making decisions that I had no say in. "Alexandra, look out a window and enjoy the beauty of nature." Mom suggested fixing her hair. I rolled my eyes and stared out the window. At first I saw nothing but trees and deer running away from the road until something caught my eye. A large object in the distance. At first it was hard to make out but soon I realized that this large object was a house, and not just any house our new house! I sat back in my seat stunned. "This is our new house?" I asked angrily. "Yes, isn't it beautiful?" Dad said questionably from the front seat. "Beautiful?" I asked madly, "This house is anything but beautiful!" I yelled angrily. "Watch your tone young lady!" Mom yelled sternly. "Oh..My...GOD!!!" I screamed running out of the car when we finally arrived. "Alexandra, come back here!" Dad yelled as I ran to the front door and kicked it down. "Alexandra!" Mom screamed in terror as she grabbed my arm and sat me on the ground. "Get a hold of yourself!" Mom said glaring at me but, I didn't meet her gaze. "Look at me." She said. I ignored her and kept my gaze on the hallway of the door. Something was moving in there, but what? "I have had enough of your behaviour and it has gotten to a point where your father and I are thinking about sending you to military school." She said loudly. "Shh." I hushed her without knowing it. "Did you just tell me to shush?" She asked me angrily. "There's something moving in there." I replied trying to get a better glimpse of what it was. She stared in the direction of the door. "Do you see it?" I asked hoping I wasn't the only one. "I see nothing." She replied. Not wanting to push my limits I got up and walked to the car to grab my luggage. I walked inside. "So where's my room?" I asked. "Go upstairs and find one." Mom said pulling more luggage through the door. I took a deep breath and made my way up the stairs. When I finally found a room after walking down a long hallway I was shocked to see it's state. The ceiling was cracked, the mattress was yellow and stained, the wallpaper was teared and the window was broken and an ugly yellowed chandelier hung from the cracked ceiling. On a wall hung a picture of Jesus. What the heck happened here, I thought nervously. "Mom?" I called. No reply. "Mom!" I yelled louder. This time I heard the sound of footsteps making their way up the stairs. "What is it Alexandra?" Mom asked worriedly before noticing the state of my new room. "Oh, my!" She said as if speaking to the portrait of Jesus that hung on the wall. "Maybe you should sleep downstairs for now." She suggested, "I'll see what we can do about this room." She turned and left the room. Disappointed I sat on the old mattress. Squeak, Squeak. What was that? I heard it again. Squeak, Squeak. I pressed the bed on the top before it crashed down to the second floor. "AHH!!!" I screamed in terror, "HELP!!!" When it finally landed on the marble floor I jumped off and raced to the kitchen. "Alexandra, what's wrong?" Dad asked. "My bed crashed, my room is a mess and I wanna go home!" I yelled frustrated. "Alexandra, this is home." He said stroking my brown, curly hair. "Uh, you never understand." I said angrily before venturing downstairs to hopefully find a decent room. I made sure to grab a flashlight, just for safety reasons. Who knows what could be lurking down there? I descended the steep staircase switching on the power. Nothing happened. I switched on my flashlight and watched my step. There was a trail of water and it smelled like sewage. Trying as hard as I could to replace the stench with something delicious I pressed on trying to find a bedroom. I stumbled on a sewage pipe and my face landed in what smelt like pee. "Ew." I said disgusted as I picked myself up off of the ground and dusted myself off. I hate this place! I walked a bit farther into the dark basement before I found a door. Wondering what was on the other side I cautiously opened it. To my surprise it was an 'ordinary' room. It was well furnished had a clean mattress and a light that actually worked. Feeling rather satisfied I decided that this would be my new room. I calmly made my way up the stairs and attempted to open the big basement door before finding out that it was jammed. A bit nervous I attempted to push through once more, but the door didn't budge. I was starting to get scared what if I was down here forever. Just the thought of it made me weary, as my legs become heavy and my eyelids slowly shut. Before I knew it I was passed out. A few minutes later I found myself lying on a blanket covered sofa. "Alexandra, you're a wake!" My mother said relieved. "What happened?" I asked confused not remembering what happened before all of this. "Why don't you tell us?" Dad asked. Suddenly it all came back. "I was in the basement looking for a new room... and when I found one... I.. I ..tried to go upstairs to tell you guys... and then the door jammed... I can't remember what happened after that." I replied. My father looked at me confused. "The door jammed?" He asked. "Yes." I replied, "I'm certain of it." "But Alexandra the door was half way open." Mom said with the same confused expression as dad. "No, it was closed!" I protested. My parents exchanged expressions of confusion and worry. I sat up. "It's okay I'll just start moving things downstairs." I said disappointed before getting up and moving my luggage down to the basement. Later that night I skipped dinner. What was going on? Why didn't my parents believe me? I was so sure the door was closed. What could have possibly opened it? Or worse, who?