werisfesteria

II

I held my breath while opening the door, expecting some serial killer to jump at me. Instead, it was a plump mailman with a large envelope in hand.

"Please sign here," he said, holding a clipboard to me.

The envelope had my mum's name 'Andrea Wells' written on it and an official looking logo stamped on top. I received the envelope from the mailman and shut the door behind me. How strange, this doesn't look like a any bill I've seen before. I examined the envelope and noticed how the box looked worn down by weather, a little faded of colour and crumples formed on the parchment. The envelope is also stained with some sort of vermillion coloured ink. I ignored it and set it on the kitchen counter.

Just as I left the kitchen, mum's rusted Corolla roared into the driveway. It's only three o'clock, I thought she won't be home until later in the evening. With a shrug, I opened the door to welcome her home. I jumped back a little as I met with her bloodshot eyes, lips pale.

"I didn't think you'd be home so early," I said.

"Mmmm..." my mum brushed off my statement, her expression worried.

"There's mail on the counter for you. Where'd you get—" I was cut off as my mum ran frantically towards the brown envelope.

"Um, it's from a friend...just some documents," mum answered hesitantly.

"Right." I was curious but didn't ask any questions as mum seemed exhausted.

I returned to the television and switched to another channel replaying an old sitcom. From the corner of my eye I saw mum opening the top of the envelope messily with her fingers. Her eyes darted across the room like she was doing something illegal. I kept telling myself that she's tired but uneasiness continued to settle inside me.

Mum's eyes widened when she took the papers out, reading whatever that was printed on it.

"Is everything alright?" I questioned.

"Yup, just some...paperwork that I need to fill in...for the people I work for...yup..."

I wondered what this was all about to make mum so worried.

"If you say so. You can tell me if it really bothers you, mum," I assured her.

"Sure."

•••

My mind was cluttered with last week's events, so much so that I kept thinking about it the following Monday at school.

"Earth to Dakota, is anyone there? Helloooo?" Maddie, my best friend since third grade chimed, snapping her fingers in front of my face.

"Huh? Yeah?" I answered.

I was so caught up about my dad and mum acting all weird that I can't even remember where I was or what I'm doing.

"I said, are you going to the Halloween party at Dylan's place this weekend? All the seniors are," Maddie's obviously annoyed by my lack of attention I was giving her.

"I don't know yet," I said nonchalantly.

"Well you better—what's up with you today? Are you feeling okay? What's troubling you?" Maddie asked. She knew me so well.

"I don't want to talk about it. Not here, at least," I said while giving the table a good look.

A couple jocks that always got kept on the bench, a goth girl with maroon hair that obviously couldn't care less and a boy wearing a Nirvana band tee that constantly keeps his head down. The misfits. And I am not going to entertain them with the crazy events that are happening. Maddie quickly got the point and didn't continue questioning.

•••

After school, I met with Maddie in the school's car park and got in her shiny midnight blue BMW. She has always given me a ride to and from school since she she needed to pass my neighbourhood anyways.

Some people really wonder how we're friends, Maddie and I are total opposites of each other. She's the typical rich girl who lives in a mansion and gets spoiled by her parents who travelled every other week. She has healthy, golden locks that frame her face, smooth, bronze skin and outfits that matched her ever-changing French manicure while my hair is always in a messy bun, skin chalky pale, dotted with acne and wore sweats like my life depended on it.

"So, are you going to talk about it?" Maddie said as she drove zone us home.

I would have genuinely forgotten to tell her if she didn't remind me. So I told her the whole incident about receiving the letter and my mum getting a package and how she started acting strangely. Just as I about to finish the story Maddie's car started making cranking sounds and slowed dramatically.

"What happened?" we both said in unison.

We got out of the car to check why the car broke down.

"Look!" Maddie exclaimed, eyes wide with shock.

She pointed at her punctured tyre and I noticed a gigantic saw with its teeth pronged in the middle of the road. I walked closer to examine it and immediately retorted back in disgust.

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hey guys I just love leaving chapters on cliffhangers cos that's fun. do you guys like the story so far? i'd love to know yeah bye until the next chapter :)