Cody
The day had finally arrived. I'm moving to Sector 18. You would never believe what is over there! Most people don't. Not a lot of people live there to be honest. And the rich people of Cassiopeia are too afraid to go there and help the poor souls out. It used to be a big city, rich with green fields of anything and everything you could possibly grow. People would swarm around like bees. They were part of the working class and they liked it that way. Everyone was happy. But like always, happy days end. A crazy man told everyone that their lovely home was haunted by an evil spirit. That was why the ground was so fertile and they lived with little troubles. My dad tried to explain to me that back then when people said something or other was haunted, they meant it with proof and all. Without any hint of doubt, the people would just pack up their things and leave without looking back. It was honestly kind of sad. Most of the people who believed the man left for Cassiopeia. Now they are on the streets, poor, and begging for food and a place to stay or they have become rich as kings and are never hungry and ignore their fellow sector folk. Anyway the place became abandoned in a sorta sense and the people of Cassiopeia forgot about it. That happened sixteen years ago.
My family was one of the three families to be sent to live there. We are apparently very lucky considering once you get a place to live, you stay there till death. Kind of like marriage but to a home. There are reasons why you stay in one place but Dad says I'm not "old enough" to know yet. The other two families moving there with us were pretty cool. I went to this witch and wizard school with Seth and Bella has been my friend since, well, as long as I can remember.
My dad said that when we move to Sector 18, I'm to stay near the house. Out of range of any danger. He is always super serious around me now, now horseplay like before. I hate it. I never understand him. I wish I had some clue for his actions. But like with all parents, there is none. He also told me I can't talk to anyone. What is? Boot camp on crack? Sorry Dad but I'm not staying away from Bella. As for Seth? We'll see where he takes me. Ever since went to Wizard and Witchcraft School, he's been over protective over me. It's like something is out trying to kill me or something. Which makes no sense since I'm a witch so you'd think I would be protecting him instead. What ever it is though, it's really starting to tick me off and get on my nerves.
Every time Bella asks me to stay over at her house or just go out in public with her, my dad always has to know everything about everything. It kind of scares me to be honest. And now it's even worse because I cant even pack my own stuff! He has to! Where did my personal space go? It's like I'm living in a prison. On top of that, whenever I'm in the car, I have to be reading. I can't tell you how many times it take to read Old Yeller and not cry at the end because you know that ending like the back of your hand. It really sucks sometimes.
When everything is all said and done and packed in the cars. I feel relief that ended fast. While I was looking forward to a nice peaceful ride with my mom, Dad informs me that I'm riding with him, and crushes my dreams! I rolled my eyes and grab five books and hop into the front seat of his truck. I haven't been able to get a break from him ever since we got the letter to move. And now I'm stuck in a truck with him for seven hours! This is gonna be one heck of a long drive.
We get to the house we were given instructions to move into to, it's late afternoon next day. What a sight to see. The place was just broken. It looked sad and lonely and not like a place two kids could live in safely.
"Dad. I'm going in first."
"No!"
"Yes, I am. And your not going to stop me."
I had to open my door fast before he locks me in. The porch creaked as I took the first step onto it and the door to the house flies open, making me jump. Out came a little squirrel.
I sighed.
Just a squirrel you scared cat.
I walked into the house slowly, watching my step so I didn't fall through the floor and keeping out of reach from anything that could fly out at me. Dad always said places like this were always creeping with booby traps. Taking a deep breath I step into the house. The place doesn't have a speck of dust on it! Whoever lived here before probably just wanted people to think it was some dump on the outside so they wouldn't bother going inside. Smart. I call Dad in from the truck.
"Cody, what if there were booby traps? Huh? Then you would be dead! Why you don't-"
"Dad! I'm fine. Take a breath and look around. Plus I didn't see you billowing in here to save me so chill."
I watched his head turn as he looked around. I jumped when he put his arm around my shoulder. This was very unusual behavior. It gave me some kind of hope that my real Dad was somewhere in that alien skin of his. I herd the gravel crunch as Mom and Albert pulled up.
"This place is o cool!" Albert said as he ran inside checking everything out. " I get first dibs on room choice he yelled as he took off down the hall to our left.
"A little help here?" Mom said trying to carry a box with her mixer in it.
"Mom! You know your not allowed to pick up anything heavy with your back and all," I said as i grabbed the box from her hands.
"Yea, yea I know. But I wanted to get everything unpacked before bed."
"You know that ain't gonna happen so don't try to hurt yourself."
"I can sure try though. Put that in the kitchen and I'll start to unpack and out things away."
"Dad will you go to the store?"
"Already ahead of you. Your mom made me a list and was just about to head out."
By the time I have all the boxes out of the van and the trailer, Dad is back from the store already.
"Sector 18 is teeny tiny!" He practically barks at me while handing me bags to haul to the kitchen.
I can't help but laugh at his excitement. That was one of the nice things about this place. There was a village a mile down the road where we were able to trade or buy things and that was pretty much all there was to it besides the geography. After the truck was unloaded and it was to dark to work outside anymore I decide to head inside for the night.
"Cody!" Albert screams.
Great. He found a spider he wants me to kill.
I walked to the room he picked as his and found it to already be a disaster! Boxes were piled all over the place and your could barely see the floor. And there, in the middle of the mess was my baby brother holding a Nerf Gun with the biggest smile you had ever seen on a kid.
"What?" I asked.
"I found it!"
When I gave him a confused look he continues.
"The Long Shot CS-6!"
Of course he had to give me the "proper" name for the gun in his hands. I couldn't help but smile at the little weirdo. We played with his toys till he was half asleep and then I tucked him in. I didn't really want to go to my room. There were boxes everywhere and it was a maze inside and out. I open a box labeled bedding and find a pink sleeping bag from when I was ten maybe. I was to tired to care though so I grabbed it and plopped down on my bed, covering all of my body except for my toes. I was out cold in seconds, my muscles finally able to relax from the hard day.
When I wake up, the outside world is shining bright threw my windows.
Need curtains!
I fling my sleeping bag to the side, not caring when it hits the floor. I head to my bathroom and brush my teeth. Time to start my new life.
