Captivated

Chapter One

Chapter One

It was supposed to be an act of rebellion. The first time I ever cut my hair, but I couldn't seem to cut it any shorter than where it fell now, about five inches below my shoulder. I would never forget the sound of the scissors as the hairdresser snipped and half my life fell at her feet.  I played with my white blond hair as we drove, holding it up to the autumn sun, watching the golden rays turn it a new color. To anyone else, cutting my hair wasn’t exactly a huge deal. After all, it was still long. But my parents knew what it meant. I’d spent my whole life refusing to get a haircut. I’d never known why, but I was fiercely protective of the long hair that hid my face like a curtain. I had cut it to show my parents that they ruined my life when they announced that we were moving to, of all places, Whisper Falls, Canada. The look on their faces when I had slammed the door to announce my return home, and they saw that my hair was cut was priceless.

They knew what it stood for, and yet they were still doing this to me. Who knew that my parents enjoyed ruining my life? I didn’t, but I had learned my lesson.  At least they’d let me finish the year at my old school and spend the summer there.

 We drove through a pair of tall iron gates, which were standing watch over the long, tree lined winding drive.  I could tell as soon as I saw it that the house had a sort of hushed atmosphere. Little did I know that the house wasn’t the only thing in this place that held immense secrets. I stared out my window. The trees lining the paved drive way swayed in the wind and I felt my eyes widen at the size of the place I would now be living in. “Jeez, does this place come with a butler and a maid too?” I said sarcastically to my mom. Prue giggled from her booster seat. “Ash stop it, we’re going to like it here. I’ve already told you, Lynn can visit us whenever she likes.” I rolled my eyes at the trees which seemed to bob their branches at me in sympathy. I’d only heard this speech about a thousand times at our old house and on the way here. Mom seemed to think that the more I heard that my best friend Lynn could drive the four hours to come see me, the happier I would be about living the four hours away from her. “Yeah, I know Mom. But it’s not the same. And do you think you could have picked a bigger house? This one isn’t nearly big enough, I think that we should really put up a sign that says ‘hi, we’re new here and really rich too’.”

Mom glared at me in the rearview mirror and my dad looked up from his book, which was a surprise because he’d been immersed in it for the entire ride. “Ashalynn, stop bothering your mother. You’ll love it here.” My dad was convinced that we were all going to find our true selves and accomplish our destinies in this town. I still didn’t understand why we couldn’t fulfill our purposes back in our old home. But I had to admit, I was looking forward to picking out my room in this huge place. I fingered my bracelet, the keys hanging from it jingling as I played with them.

When the car stopped moving, I leaped out the door and tried to hide the uncontrollable excitement that was building inside me. My mom handed me the key to the front door and smiled at me as she pulled Prudence from her seat. The key was heavy and iron, I like it immediately. “Go on Ash; pick your room; whichever one you want.” She paused as she rethought her words. “Well, any except the master bedroom. That one is for your father and me.” I nodded, keeping my face blank. “Oh come on Ash, I know you can’t wait to get in there. Just go. Pick your room and then go to bed. It’s been a long day.” Mom tried to cover up her yawn.

My face cracked into a smile against my will as I grabbed the box I’d put a blanket and my pajamas in for exactly this night. I walked to the door and twisted the key in the lock. I shoved the solid wood door open and stepped inside. A crystal chandelier hung from the entrance ceiling. I stared at it with wide eyes as I climbed the spiral staircase to the second floor. I flung open the nearest door to reveal an immense bathroom. After gaping at the golden claw footed tub with a mixture of horror and awe, I continued down the seemingly endless hall. Finally I found the perfect room to call mine.