The Ghosts of Highwater

Chapter One

                              
Everyone said there were ghosts. The people in town believed it but the new comers were harder to convince. When asked, the locals will most likely say that the population of the town is 665 or 667. No one wants to say that they live in a haunted town with a population of 666.

Frank was always a happy-go-lucky boy. Most of the time he had a big smile on his face that showed off his perfect teeth but as his family grew closer to their new home his smile began to fade. He had heard stories. Dark evil stories. This town and the residents scared him. His parents, on the other hand, told him he was overreacting.

Overreacting they said. Overreacting! How am I overreacting when the towns population is always 666 no matter how many people move into that town!? I know as my family and I are moving into a big house on Stone Ridge that the number stands at 669, but for how long..

There is a warm breeze blowing across the trees as we start moving our things into the house. It's July so at least we'll be settled in before school starts in September, I thought to myself. I am really not looking forward to starting a new school. High School can be difficult enough but when you add in being the new kid, well, that can make for a long year.

"Frank!", I hear my mom's voice from the direction of the house. "You need to come inside and decide which bedroom you want." This house is crazy big for just the three of us but my parents said the price was fair. Plus I know we all could use a fresh start. I grabbed a few boxes from the moving truck and made my way up to the house. As I walk up onto the large porch that circles half the house, I look inside the glass door and see something. I close my eyes and shake my head. When I open my eyes it's gone. It looked like a face. Did I really see something? Maybe it's just all the stories I had been hearing. Whatever it was, it gave me chills. I did not want to move in the first place. I liked my school, my friends, my teachers even.

It would be hard enough starting over but now I have found myself getting ready for my first year of high school without everyone I know, in a strange house and even stranger town. All I can do is hope for the best.

Dad is close behind as we walk in the door. I stop as I walk inside taking everything in. It is so big. A large staircase leading to the top floor is straight ahead, a hallway to the left where a grandfather clock stands and a small walkway to the right that leads to the kitchen. Dad walks to the left of the stairs carrying boxes for the living room. I really am not sure where mom has gone off to but I decide to venture up the long stairs to explore.

When my parents had first told me there were 3 floors, not including a completely finished basement, I was quick to say I wanted on the top floor. Basements have always given me the creeps if I'm honest.

It felt as if I had walked forever when I finally reached the top. The boxes feel as if they weigh a ton now. There is a long hallway leading straight back to a room with the door standing open. I could see that it is a bathroom. At least I'll have my own bathroom, I think to myself. There are two doors on either side of the hall with the doors closed. I walk up and open the door to the left. I walk inside gazing wide eyed. This room is huge! At least twice the size of my old room. I really don't know what to do with all the free space I am going to have. I sit the boxes down next to the back wall. I have no idea where to put anything yet.

As the days passed my bedroom was coming together nicely. It is hard to believe that my family and I have been in our new home for a week now. I have barely been out of my bedroom but it is beginning to look and feel like..my room.

"Frank," mom is standing in the doorway when I turn around, "Your dad is going into town. Would you like to go with him?" "Well, of course I would like to go!" What is this place REALLY like anyway? "Ask him to give me about 10 minutes and I'll be down", I say excitedly. Mom  laughs and says "Sure thing", as she turns around to leave.

Before long dad and I are buckled up heading into town. In less than 15 minutes we were pulling up to a small shopping center, you know, with several different stores where you can pretty much buy anything you might want or need.

As we get out of the truck dad says, "Don't wonder off to far." "Ok dad", I say as I start to walk off, but before I can turn around he says, "You have your cell phone?" "Yes dad!" Geeez, you would think I was 5 the way he talks to me sometimes.

As I walk along the sidewalk I read the store names printed on the tops of the buildings. Dale's Fishing Supplies, Ted's Auto, Jimmy's Grocery, Alex's Shoe Store and in the corner by itself is Ann's Boutique.

I hear a voice that startles me. "You new in town or just passing through?" I look around to see a dark haired young man who looks to be in his early twenties standing next to the alley between Dale's and Jimmy's. He is wearing black jeans, a black shirt and a black leather jacket. His boots are even black. "My parents and I just moved into a house on Stone Ridge last week. Why do you ask?" The man in black stares at me with a blank expression on his face and asks the question I figured was going to cross his lips, "Well, you heard about this town before you moved here didn't you?" Well of course I had! I begged my parents not to move here, of all places. "Well, the population can't stay at 669. Not for long anyway", he said with a twisted grin on his face.

He said 'can't'. Who was he anyway? What did he know about the towns secret that I haven't heard yet? I was about to ask him a question about the happenings in town when I heard my dad's voice, "Frank, let's go!" I turn just in time to see him getting back in the truck. I looked back at the alley but the man in black is gone.