Haunted

Devil House

The icy wind hit my face like cinder blocks as we walked down the pavement. We walked up a flight of stairs to meet an apartment door.

Mom knocks on it twice. She looks back at me with a nervous expression, mouthing 'be nice' in my direction.

I shrug.

"Babe!"

"Steven!"

They greet each other with a giant sloppy open mouthed kiss, then embrace.

I notice how he looks. Brown messy hair, small eyes hidden by large glasses with thin golden rims that almost cover his entire face, and a lopsided smile. Dork. He reaches out his pale arms to pull me in for a hug, instead I just nod my head as a 'hello'.

"She's not big on touching." Mom whispers to him, going inside of his home with me behind her. He comes in last.

I wonder around his little two room apartment, feeling disgusted at almost everything I saw. There were ceramic kittens, grandfather clocks, and a giant elk head mounted in the living room above the tv. To say he had different taste is an understatement.

"I'm so glad you're here!" Steven sits my mom down on the old brown and red plaid couch. "I've been looking forward to this for months!"

I can't stand him already. He seems desperate. Is this really the only thing he's had to look forward to?

When my mom told me we were moving to Alaska to meet her soon to be husband, I was less than thrilled. No not because I had to leave my friends (they're replaceable), not because of the weather (it snowed in North Carolina sometimes), it was because we had to meet him.

My moms been married before, but never has she met someone online.

I need to investigate this guy.

"Hey, Steffens?"

"It's Steven."

"Right," I rub the back of my neck awkwardly due to my mistake. "Where's your bathroom?"

"Down the hall, to the right. Can't miss it."

I thank him, going down the hall, my eyes locked to my phone screen.

Dude, I can't wait to leave! This guy's a total|

Suddenly I trip over something, making me fall to my knees. I scramble to pick up my phone. Damn it! Cracked screen.

I put my phone down and pick up what I tripped on. An old tape labeled 'home videos'. God, doesn't he put anything away?

I throw it to the side, going to the bathroom an handling my business. After that, we all sit at his ugly dining room table that lazily sits in the middle of his kitchen.

"Max should be here soon," Steven randomly says, very excitedly. "He's sorta grumpy that you're here, but it's fine!"

"Well, I hope he likes me!" The happy couple shares an awkward laugh, touching hands as they both try to grab for the salad tongs. Mom blushes, letting go of them.

Steven shovels a bunch of salad onto his plate, giving us only a little to deal with.

Suddenly, the front door opens, a little boy waltzing in. He doesn't talk or smile, he just sits down and helps himself to lasagna and salad.

"Max, this is Melanie and that's Aaubry."