The House of Haunted Memories

Chapter 2 - Home

"I," she tried to get out the words but they refused to leave, finding comfort in a lump within her throat. She took a breath and tried again but no sound escaped her lips. Ethan moved his free hand on top of her's and, finally, the words timidly began to sneak into the world outside of Nevaeh's mouth. "I need a favor," she said in a near whisper "I have to go home. Not forever but I need to see the house again. I don't know why but it's eating away at me and I just need to do this; for the sake of what's left of my sanity."

"Do you remember anything now?" Ethan asked, his supportive tone bringing instant relief to Nevaeh. "Do you know why you ran away ten years ago?".

"No," she sighed, her relief deflating and anxiety returning, this time as disappointment in herself and worry that she'll convince herself not to go.

"Well do you remember anything about your family or where your house is?" Ethan once again questioned her about what motivated her to want to return home.

Neveah shook her head. "I just need to go." she said weakly "Will you drive me. I know I sound crazy but I feel this calling inside me. It pulls me in the same direction out of town and I think it's trying to show me where my house is.".

"Why not." Ethan smiled with an encouraging chuckle, "It could be fun.".

As the words left his lips, a spark lit up in Nevaeh's ash-grey eyes. She threw her arms around him, smiling ear to ear, and spouting 'thank you's a mile a minute. Laughs emanated from both of them as they got into Ethan's beloved electric blue Stingray, a gift from his father when he got his license. It's not exactly hard to get a Corvette when you're father owns the dealership. They drove down the nearly empty roads with the hood of the convertible down, following the directions Nevaeh called off along the way. Three miles later, in the town of Placerville, they pulled up to an old, fire-damaged house. Rubble littered the property and nearly everything was burnt up; charred to an eerie blackened appearance. Time seemed to slow to a near stop as they cautiously left the car. Ethan watched in unease as Nevaeh walked up to the open door. Before she could walk inside he gently grabbed her scarred wrist and pulled her back. She looked at him with concern in her eyes but it faded when he pulled her into a tight hug and stared deep into her ash-grey eyes.

"Be careful in there. Okay?" he whispered, brushing a strand of her ebony hair away from her face. She simply nodded at him with an assuring smile.

"I will," she said in the same whispered voice. Though she didn't know why they were whispering, it felt right to her. "But promise to stay out here. I need to do this on my own." she once again whispered. He nodded.