Mist Falls

Chapter 6: Exploring

I opened the bathroom door to see Mikey curled up in Dads chair fast asleep, I'm glad he didn't have to see my skin its pretty red but I feel better washed clean, I look around the room and sigh there is nothing left for me to unpack or do, maybe I should explore my new home.

Its summer and the days are long and outside there is still a hour or two of light maybe a little freedom is what I need. Back home I stoped going out unless I had to see a doctor or one of the ten therapist Mike forced me to see not that any of them helped one even told me I couldn't be fixed and she couldn't see me anymore that was fine with me.

I take one last look at my brother before opening up the door and peering out, good no one is around. I close the door as softy as I can before taking my first look at the back yard.

I stand there like a fish for a moment as I look out at the maze huge and goes on for a while I can see a fountain in the middle and off to the very edge is another smaller wall that looks like it leads to smaller gardens it looks so peaceful.

As softly as I can I open the main door to the landing and creep out leaving the door open so I don't have to close and maybe even sneak back in later. I walk softy down the marble staircase as I hear the TV blasting some sort of action movie in the living room.

I take a peek around the living door glad the couch faces the TV on the opposite wall, I can see the back of four heads all focus on the TV, thankful I go unnoticed I slip away from the room and into the only closed door from before.

I find a beautiful kitchen behind the door, black marble worktops, breakfast island in the middle of the room big enough to seat ten, huge double fridge and double stove all in sliver, double sink a professional looking coffee machine that looks like it belongs in Italian coffee shop and all manor of appliances that I wouldn't know the first thing about.

There are four doors in here as I peer behind each one I find huge pantry filled with food, a basement bathed in darkness which I do not go down, a laundry room/cleaning closet and finally a way that looks like it will lead outside.

I unlock the door with the key that's already in there and find myself in the glass roofed building at the side of the house which also happens to house the pool, the biggest pool I have ever seen complete with a blow up slide and diving boards and even a hotub.

I haven't swam much since I drowned in the pool once they where done with me but I think I will be swimming more again this pool is new beautiful and begging for someone to swim in it but right now I want to get outside into the fresh air and just be free of watchful eyes for a while.

I see a set of double doors on the far side of the pool and though the glass windows I can see green, i rush to the doors forgetting I need to be quiet and burst though them into the sunshine.

I open my eyes to see lawn chairs and two porch swings but as I turn my head I spot the start of the maze and take off running, I forgot how good it was to run, I used to run everyday and sometimes for a few hours and I had missed it the freedom, the peace just you and the burn in your lungs.

I run and run until my legs burn and somehow I have found the middle of the maze I take a seat on the bench around the edge of the fountain and watch as large goldfish swim around in the pool below.

Its so beautiful the stone is smooth and hot under my touch after being in the sun for hours I can hear birds singing and the soft breeze as it blows though the leaves cooling my skin.

I sit just talking in the sun with my eyes closed, enjoying the fact that no one from home is watching my every move, waiting for my to crack or the glances of pity I saw everyday before I stop leaving the house.

The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, my eyes shoot open as I scan the area around me, nothing movies everything seems still even the birds seem to have stopped singing, I can feel eyes on me watching, a shiver creeps up my spine like ice its even painful.

"Hello?" I say trying to make my voice sound stronger than I feel.

No one answers and nothing moves, I take off into a run taking the turns of the maze faster than seems possible without crashing into the bushes, I run my blind like my feet have know where to go, almost like I have been here before and soon I'm standing in front of the smaller wall that I spotted from the landing upstairs.

I open a gate and find my self in a beautiful set of gardens full of flower beds and in the centre is a very old, very large oak tree with a swing hanging down one side.

I take a seat, looking around waiting for the creepy feeling to return but I soon relax when I find nothing happens even the sounds of the birds are in flew song above me and in the forest behind the property wall.

I have to wonder who made this swing it looks new , it even has a back on it do you can't fall back and seen as I'm small I can sit Indian style and let the breeze push me softy as I look around at the many flowers.

I take my charged phone out of my pocket and open up the text scream to Mandy's name.

Winter: Got here ok, just checking in I miss you already

Ducky (AKA Mandy): Good did you meet all the boys yet and how's Fox ? I miss you to Jitter bug

I smirk at the phone at the use of my nick name, I'm always bouncing my knee and moving my hands never able to sit still so Mandy gave me the name Jitter Bug and her nickname is Ducky because I have never seen anyone swim like she does it is still the cutest thing I have ever seen and makes me smile when ever I think about it.

Winter: No meet two of them Phoenix and Jett and Fox is great as far as I can tell x

Ducky: Tell me your not pushing them away already, you need to let them in and give Mikey a break that boy needs it, I know its hard but will you try for me I worry about you xx

What am I suppose to say to that do I lie ?, no that will never work even by text she knows me to well, can I let them in even a little, can I even try maybe.

Winter: I will try Fox said he would take me on a tour but I said later I will ask him later ok, will that make you happy ? lol

Mandy: it will do for now, plus I need pictures of them up close ones not like the crap ones Mike has on his FB pmsl

Winter: ewwww so not checking out my brothers friends for you and how's the holiday ?

We text back and forth for a while before she tells me she is off for dinner I decide to lay my head back and watch the sunset for the first night in my new home my eyes are heavy as I curl up and watch the sky swirl in reds, pinks, orange and even some purple for darkness pulls me softy into sleep.

Hey please let me know what you think of the story so far and weather you are enjoying it, it's my first book,

Thank you for reading I look forward to hearing from you :)

P.s If you spot any mistakes please let me know so I can go back and edit later :)