Phantom

Chapter Three

                                                           8.5 Years Ago

     I hopped from the car to stare up at our new house. It had large windows and a stone pathway leading up to the front door. The façade of the home was made of dark brick. The fact that it was a cloudy day didn't help lighten my brooding mood one bit. "It's a scary house," I snapped, crossing my arms. "I think we should go back to our old one. It had flowers."

     "Well, we can always plant flowers. Then it won't be so scary anymore," Father stepped out of the car and ruffled my short black hair.

     "Liar." I muttered and ducked away from him.

     "I agree with your father, Kanoa. It will look really nice if you want to plant some snapdragons out along the path." Mom carefully got out of the passenger seat and walked around the front of the car to talk to us.

     I frowned and vigorously shook my head. "I wanna go home!"

     Mom smiled sadly. "Honey, we are home."

     "No we aren't! I mean our real home, not this dump!"

     Father took a step forwards. "This 'dump' is where you'll be living from now on, so you'd better get used to it!" I squeezed my eyes tight and shook my head faster. "Shay, get her inside and put her in a room. Any room."

      "Fred, she just misses her friends." Father must have shot her a look, because Mom stopped talking and quietly walked over. She gently grabbed my hand and led me inside.

     "Now, listen here," Mom said when we got to my new room. "Father's a little tired, and he's missing home, too. You can't act like you're the only person missing the old house. This is our new home. Now we live on a nice street where you can make plenty of friends. And it's safe for the baby, too," she put my hand on her belly. "Don't you want it to be safe?" I nodded and dragged an arm across my face. "Good girl. Now stay here and wait for us to bring up your stuff."

     The room was dark and musty. It had wooden floors and soft blue walls. With great purpose, I marched to the windows, pushed up the bottom half, and let air flow in. It immediately opened up the room and let light in. A cool breeze began to flow, so I leaned against the window and closed my eyes.

     "Who're you?"

     The sudden voice startled me, making me wobble. I opened my eyes and looked down to where a boy, who must've been a few years older than me, stood. "Huh?"

     "I asked who ya are?" he put a hand on his hip. "You must not be all that smart."

     "My name's Kanoa and I bet you're as dumb as a brick!" I leaned forwards, out the window.

     "That's a stupid name. Who names their kid Koala?"

     "I said Kanoa!"

     The boy smiled and tilted his head further up. "Come out. We're about to play baseball," he motioned to where a measly group of kids were gathering farther down the street.

     "Can't."

     "Why not?"

     "I have to stay inside. My momma won't want me to go out."

     There was now a full-blown grin on the boy's face. "You're a rule-follower, huh? Well I'm a rule breaker! Come on, it'll be fun."

     "I just got here."

     "So?"

     I blinked and drew back. What was this boy saying? He didn't even know me, and yet he was trying to get me to go outside.