Mirror of Myths

Chapter One

I huff as I set the box down onto the bare dusty floor. I look around me. The walls are a ugly white that has long turned into a yellow. The curtains are torn fro what looks to be animals and almost look like they could give away at any second. I sigh as step back out the open front door behind me to grab another box.

A month ago when my parents lawyer approached me is seemed as if this day was so far in the future and now its here. My parents died when I was a 7 and I grew up in and out of foster homes. I had no relatives alive other than my uncle who was in prison and later died when I was 14. When I turned eighteen a month ago I met with my parents lawyer and received my inheritance. What my parent's left to me shocked me. I was left my childhood home, both their cars, and a little cottage in the woods north of my home town. I remember growing up that my parents had money but I was shocked by how much. I also received my trust fund which has 1.5 million in it plus the additional 10 million in their joint bank account. Apparently my parents each came from rich family's. I knew that would have some money saved up since my dad was a lawyer and my mom a brain surgeon but I never thought that they had that much.

I kept the cottage so that I could fix it up as a summer home and sell it. I don't need the money but I also don't need two houses. So here I am. In the middle of country fixing up the old cottage to sell.  Shouldn't be to hard. Right?

~

And I spoke too soon. Not only did I underestimate what needed to be done here but I didn't think about how hard it was gonna be to try to do it all on my own. I need a plumber, contractor and a electrician like now. Thankfully its still early in the day and the nearest town is not far.  I managed to get all the damn boxes out of my car and into the little house. Wiping me pants off any dust i grab my keys, phone and wallet from where I set them on the small table next to the front door. Getting into my car I roll down my windows and start the engine. I drive to town and down the main road. I see a cafe up ahead and so I decide to stop to see if someone can point me in the right direction of maybe a hardware store or something of the like.

I step out of my car and make my way to the front door of the cafe. I open the door, the bell jingling, announcing my entrance and everyone looks at me when I step inside. I walk up to the counter and wait for someone to step up to it. I see a girl about 16 come over to me. "What can I get you?" she asks with a smile and a raised eyebrow, I can tell they aren't used to many strangers in this town. "Is there a plumber, electrician or contractor around here?" I ask hopefully. "Two doors down is Earls Place. He does all that and more" the girl replies. I thank her and go back out the door. I look both ways and to my left I see a sign that literally says 'Earl's Place'. I walk over and pull the door open. The air conditioning hits me as I walk in.

I hear some loud footsteps and look to my right as a man in his 40's with a balding head and a nice face come towards me, his front crooked teeth set in a smile. "Hello Miss, I'm Earl and welcome in. What can I help you with today?" Earl asks with a big genuine smile.  "I own the little cottage in the woods, near town. And I was hoping if you could come out and get the toilet working and the lights on and maybe make sure the house  is safe and okay to live in" I reply. "Yes I can do that. When would you like me to come by?" Earl asks. "Today?" I ask. "OK. Today it is" Earl says and grabs some papers from beside him on the long desk. I sign the neccassry paper work and he tells me he will leave shortly. I leave driving back to the cottage to get ready for his arrival.

~

"Well that was easy. Everything is in working order. Surprisingly the electricity is up to date, the toilet just needed a new handle and the breakers just needed to be turned on for the lights to work. And I checked out the entire house; other than a good cleaning and a paint job the house is in good shape. Seems it was just left uninhabited for a great while" Earl says to me and I nod. "Whoever had the house last took care of it. I don't remember exactly who that was because I don't come out here often anymore" Earl says and scratches the back of his neck. "I inherited it from my parent's" I explain and he nods like he already knew that. "Oh and I checked out the oven and the stove, they both work along with the fridge and all the outlets. If anything stops working or breaks, just give me a all" Earl says and I nod. "Well thank you for coming at such short notice. I will meet you at your office for payment" I say and smile at Earl as he nods. We get into our cars and head into town.

~

I only have to pay Earl 200$ and he was fast and efficient. I smile knowing that i wont have to live in a whole for the next two weeks while I get the house together. I was planning on staying longer but if the house is in good shape then o can go home sooner. After I pay Earl I decided to go get some groceries. I park at the grocery store and get out. I need the essentials . So I get fruits and veggies along with some chicken, rice, pasta, ramen, frozen pizzas, coffee, coffee creamer, bread, eggs, bacon and whatever else I want. I am in the check out line when the lady behind me gets my attention. "Are you new in town?" the lady asks with a smile. She has blond hair that's styled big with bright white teeth (like in your face white) and a round face. And she kind of looks like she's had too many face lifts. "Yeah" I reply. "Well which house are you in? I didn't think any houses in town were for rent or sell" the lady says. "The little cottage in the woods" I reply. And when the lady hears my words her eyes go real wide. "Haven't you heard the stories about that place?" the lady asks me and grabs my arm like she's scared for her life. I subtly try to pull away, uncomfortable with some random just touching me.

"No. What stories?" I ask curious. "Well about fifty years ago a nice lady moved into that house and then one day she went in and never came back out. Eventually people got worried and went to her house to see if she was okay but she wasn't there. She was never found. And then stories came out that over the years teenage girls have gone there and they never came back. They are gone forever. Missing" the lady says and steps back like shes afraid since I am staying there and that she touched me that she will disappear now too or something. "Oh well I will be careful" I say as I turn and pay for my groceries. As I walk out I feel her eyes glued on my back. It's just a story nothing to stress about.

~

I get back and I am glad that I brought dishes and pans with me. I assumed I would be here for a while and would need something to cook with and eat off of. I grab a pot and put it on the stove. I boil water and throw some pasta in. I cook up the chicken in some spices that I grabbed while at the store and eat my thrown together past dish while sitting on the floor. There is not really any furniture in here yet but I brought a blow up mattress and plenty of pillows and blankets.

~

That night as I try to fall asleep I try to remind myself that all those stories those lady told me are just that. Stories. But even then I fall asleep with thoughts of being kidnapped and dragged from the house in my mind.  The wind howling through the tress doesn't do a lot to calm my nerves either. But before I know it exhaustion takes over and my eyes slip closed.

~

I wake up in the morning without incident.