ELAINE

I

"Mom, do we have to move? I'll miss my friends!"

"We do, honey. After the divorce, I've always wanted to be closer to your grandparents. And your cousin Henry lives there! It'll be fun! The adventure of a lifetime!"

The words rang in my ears like sonorous bells. This so-called "adventure of a lifetime" sent chills down my spine ever since I first heard of it. I knew Hampton County was haunted, so why were we going to live there? I don't want to end up killed like all those girls before me!

"Seriously, Mom?! That place is haunted, and you know it! Only God knows if Elaine Hampton still roams around there, murdering everyone who stands in her way!" I retaliated, knowing full well my mother would not change her mind.

"Alana Doreen Pickett, you know that's just a silly urban legend! Now come on, pack your stuff, we have to get to the airport in time to catch the flight to Newark."

I rolled my eyes, then stormed upstairs to my bedroom, where heaps of blouses and dresses, both old and new, lay in a pile on my soon-to-be former floor. I picked them up one by one, and stuffed them into my suitcase full of utilities for when we arrive. 

"Alana! Come on, we need to go--"

"Coming! I just need to get some last-minute stuff!"

My eyes landed on the farewell card my friends gave to me a week after I announced my departure. I sighed, and picked it up before rushing downstairs to greet my mom.

"All right, I'm ready!"

"Good. Our plane leaves in exactly one hour! Let's go!"

We rushed outside to the driveway, where our taxi was waiting. Mom hopped in first, with me following her. I started reading the card, my voice breaking as I did.

"We'll miss you, Lana!"

Their voices echoed in my head, and their hugs sent a warm and fuzzy feeling to my body as I thought of them. Mom put her hand on my shoulder, as if attempting to comfort me. As the engine started, I laid my head on her lap, and we sped off towards Long Island-MacArthur International Airport.