The Witch Next Door

Chapter 5

Winter

I'm finally here.

I'm at my old house, the one I lived in right before the government took me. I was standing on the driveway, looking up at the house. The wind was starting to pick up. I smiled.

Man, this is the first time I have smiled in nine months. It felt...

Amazing.

I started to make my way to the door. The cars are gone, so that means my families gone and safe.

Well, I hope they're safe.

I got to the door and grabbed the doorknob. I gripped it tight, then turned it to open it. The door creaked open slowly. I looked inside.

It was really dark. I walked inside slowly and looked around, closing the door behind me. Everything is still here. The furniture, the rugs, the lightbulbs, everything. I started to look around even more.

I walked straight for the living room. The couches were still there, the pictures my dad hung up is still here. The Persian rug was still lying on the floor with the coffee table lying upon it.

After, I walked to the kitchen. I saw the huge kitchen with its marble countertops and the wooden barstools. I walked behind the counter and looked around. The pans were still hanging up above the stove.

"Well, if I'm gonna live here, I gotta clean it up." I mumbled to myself. I turned around and walked up stairs. I walked to my old bedroom and opened the doors slowly. I looked inside and smiled.

My old bedroom.

Everything was still there. I walked inside. The memories started to hit me like a rock. I walked to my drawer and saw all my old clothes. I started to dig through. I finally found my shirt and my shorts. I gripped them tighter and walked to my bed.

I put my clothes lightly on my bed and got my dress off. I put my dress on the bed and grabbed my shirt and put it on, tying the bottom. Then I got my shorts on.

I walked over to my closet again and opened a drawer. I got a rubber band and a clip out. I braided my hair and tied it on the bottom, putting my bangs back on a clip.

I heard a knock on the door. I looked behind me, then back at the drawer. I closed the one I had open. I bent down and opened the bottom drawer. I heard another knock.

"Hold on!" I yelled. I looked inside the drawer and found my dads pistol and bullets. I grabbed the gun and loaded the bullets inside. I put the gun in the back of my pants and got up.

I walked out of my room, down the squeaky stairs, and to the door. I opened the door and saw a tall, handsome guy, about my age, standing there, holding his cowboy hat. The thing is...

He had blood all over his shirt.

"Yes?" I asked as I reached slowly for my gun.

"Hi, my..." The boy paused. "My name is James. James Green. And I was wondering if you had any... jobs... available for me." He asked. I released my hand from the gun.

"Uh, I don't know. Why is there blood all over your shirt?" I asked.

"My little sister got shot so I took her to the hospital. I saw the porch light on and I new this was an abandoned house. I thought you were new to the neighborhood. So, I was wondering if you needed a job for your farm?" James explained.

"Come back in about twenty minutes and I'll see what I have for you." I replied.

"Okay. Thanks so much." He said. I nodded. He turned around and started to walk off.

"Oh, wait." I said. He stopped and turned round. "Is there a school around here?" I asked. He nodded and smiled.

"Yeah, a school about a mile away. If that helps." He stated. I nodded.

"Yeah, that helps a lot. Thanks." I said. He smiled lightly.

"Anytime."