Theo's Actual Factual Guide to the Supernatural

Chapter 1: Little Red

Hi, there my name is Theo Sampson and if you're reading this you're screwed!

Seriously though, to anyone who needs the the contents of this journal for survival good luck. To any casual reader I say put this journal down now and enjoy your ignorance while you can, I certainly wish I could.

After things really started going to hell at the beginning of this school year I thought I ought to write it all down in one terrifying, and potentially useful location.

First things first, I live in the suburban city of Pleasanton (yes, seriously). Think of any all-American 50's style suburb and that's Pleasanton, all white picket fences and cookie cutter houses. That is of course until you begin to dig beneath the surface.

It started at the end of the summer right before the school year started. Even those with no supernatural ties could sense it; a certain tension in the atmosphere, a chill in the air too premature to suggest the coming of autumn.

I could feel it too, though I didn't know it yet. It came to me, like to comes to many, in the form of dreams.

There was a girl walking through the woods, stereotypical I know, I couldn't see her face because it was covered with and honest-to-god little red, storybook style hood. In one hand she held an old fashioned lantern while the other sprinkled glowing dust. She spoke unintelligibly in hushed tones, like a prayer. Whoever she was she clearly had a flair for the dramatic.

She stopped suddenly as if by some unknown force. I don't know how but I knew that she was displeased with what she discovered. She reached up to remove her hood revealing soft chocolate brown curls. Slowly she turned to me- I jolted upright in my room.

I smashed the blaring alarm next to to me and breathed, did I miss a dose of my ADHD meds? I decided that I must have to have that weird and vivid of a dream. I know from experience that missing doses does stuff to your head.

By the time I was ready for school and ready to dash out of the house my parents were already up and about.

I nearly tripped over my mother as she did yoga as I ran into the living room.

"Hey, what's the rush there speedy? Don't you want to join me, or at least eat something before you leave?" she asked, recovering and entering the lotus position.

"Sorry, mom no time." I glanced at my watch, I felt bad but I really didn't have any time to waste.

"In that case your father can give you a ride, give your son a ride to school Georgie ."

"Mhmm mm Gugh?" asked my dad, head bolting upright from where it had been resting on the kitchen table. He had imprints of the newspaper he was using as a pillow on face and his hair stood up at odd angles. He was clearly in need of another cup of coffee before he was in the right state to be driving anyone anywhere.

Here's the thing you need to know about George and Jasmine Sampson, they were about as different as cats and dogs or orange juice and toothpaste but somehow made it work anyway.

My mom is, I guess you could say a bit of a free spirit. She was a small woman but somehow made herself look bigger and more intimidating especially when she knew she was about to catch you in a lie. She's a Buddhist who co-owns a zen studio with her best friend since diapers, Martha who herself is wiccan.

I tell you all this because you've got to know that my father is the exact opposite of my mother. Where my mom is petite and clean-cut, you could easily mistake him for a scruffy homeless guy when my mom isn't there to tell him to put on a clean shirt. Despite his appearance my dad is very much employed by a pharmaceuticals company in town as a chemist. Furthermore he loves red meat, cynicism, and has a worrying caffeine addiction that my mom is endlessly trying to curb.