Deranged • Ghost N.H. au

One

My old, beat up red pick-up truck made a strange clattering sound everytime I passed even the slightest bump on the road, reminding me that I needed to keep my eyes out on a new, more trustworthy vehicle. As I rode in silence over the old bumpy road that would lead directly to the front side of my new house, I started doubting my decisions again. What if I couldn't make it on my own? In a whole new country, a new house, new people? What if they would look at me with the same look everyone back home had when they would even see me walking down the street?

I didn't want people's pity, their grief or their so called sincere "I'm sorry."

I just wanted everyone to leave me alone, what they just wouldn't do. So I decided to move away from the place I used to call home, before my parents died.

I was creating a new life for myself, with a fresh start in a place where nobody knew me or my background. With the money my mom and dad left behind for me to take, I was able to buy my own house, far away from London where I was born and raised. I eventually decided on buying a house in Mullingar, Ireland.

Me and my parents went on a five day trip through Ireland when I was 12 years old. We were so close during that time, we were the happiest family alive. Even the mentioning of the country brought a smile to my face.

So naturally, that was the first place that came to mind when I first started thinking about moving away from London.

The house I bought had no close neighbours around and came completely furnished. From what I've read online, nobody has lived in it for a very long time. I've had contact with the real estate manager multiple times, who wasn't very fond of the house. Everytime I tried to ask something about the condition of it, he would rudely remark that I could find all the information I needed on the website, not answering any of my questions to why the house had been empty for such a long time. I didn't really pay a second thought to his strange behaviour, the house looked beautiful from the outside, it hadn't been untouched by nature but that would be easily fixed with a paintjob.

I parked my car in front of the porch and got out, leaving me shivering from the cold weather. Practically the only thing I brought with me were my clothes and some other personal belongings, no big things. I took out the two suitcases I bought right before I left London and put them down next to my car, observing the house. It really wasn't very different from the pictures I've seen, it looked beautiful.

I heard a car door slam and turned around, seeing the man who sold me the house had just arrived.

I walked down the steps of the front porch towards Mr. Rodriquez. This was actually the first time I laid eyes on him and I had to stiffle a laugh. He was short. too short for a man, with his chubby figure and grey beard he reminded me a little bit of Santa Clause.

He gave me a strange look when he saw my probably idiotic facial expression, but shrugged it off.

"Good afternoon, Miss Clark! How do you find the house, is everything like you expected it to be?"

I walked closer to him, and shook his hand which he already had extended towards me.

"Good afternoon, I very much like it indeed." I smiled politely. "Lovely! Is it alright if we head inside and get the papers ready? I have another appointment in thirty minutes."

This man speaks way too loud for my liking.

He took the lead and walked inside, Very slowly, eyeing the place like the ceiling was about to fall down and crush him like a bug. I shrugged it off and followed him in. When he reached the kitchen, he took a big stash of papers out of his way too expensive briefcase, sprawling them out on the kitchen table.