You belong to me

This old house

The drive to Derry was long, a two day trip finally coming to an end as the small town came into view. The town was something out of a Hallmark Christmas movie, but in the middle of summer. Mom and Pop shops lined downtown streets that held maybe half of the small population of residents, all of whom stared at me as I drove past.

"Welcoming little town aren't you?" I muttered to myself while glancing at the paper in my hand.

"2235 Kansas St. At the corner where Kansas St meets Route 2...Now where is that?" Sighing I knew I would have to ask for directions, though I wasn't sure if anyone would actually give them to me. I decided to try one of the stores rather than just rolling my window down and shouting to one of the residents, I was already being given dirty looks, no need to make it worse. Parking in front of what looked like a pharmacy, I proceeded to get out, just barely getting to the front of my car and out of the way of a pickup that almost ran me over, the passenger, a teenage boy, glaring at me as they past.

"Starting to see why mom hates this place" I huffed and straightened out my long black skirt, I guess I should have expected the looks, I'm guessing this town didn't get many visitors, much less ones that could be quickly labeled goth. Making my way to the building I smiled and nodded at two elderly men sitting out front, but again just received blank stares, what the fuck was everyone's problem? Opening the door I was greeted with the default bell jingle that every small shop in America seem to have, as well as the overpowering smell of...I'm not entirely sure, you would think a pharmacy would smell like clearer or something, but this just smelled dirty.

'Remind me not to buy anything'

I looked around but didn't see a soul in the building, despite all the elderly people I had passed on the way. Slowly, I made my way to the back, looking around at the small building that seemed to have not moved past the 80's, and following a popping sound that seemed to grow louder the further back I went.

"You're new here" a female voice spoke, my eyes met those of a woman in her mid to late 30's, curly blonde hair, and an expression that said she would rather be anywhere else. The popping sound, I soon discovered, was her bubblegum.

"Yeah... yeah I'm just a bit lost, can you tell me how to get to" I started while I fished the paper out of my purse, having already forgotten the address.

"The corner of Kansas St and Route 2?" She popped her bubble again, and with a sigh, stated.

"The street behind this place is Maine St, follow that" she paused and looked at me dully.

"Left, at the end you'll come to Route 2, take a right, eventually you'll come across Kansas St" she finished, popping her bubble once more.

"Thanks, I appreciate it" I nodded with a small smile, ready to leave this place already.

"No problem" she replied with the fakest smile I had ever seen

"Welcome to Derry" and just like that her expression was back to being so done with everything. Taking my leave I exited the pharmacy, not paying any mind to the two men outside this time as I just quickly got into my car.

"I guess it's true, hospitality is only in the south" I grumbled as I drove down the street, quickly finding a way to Main St, and began following that. The woman was right, as soon as I got into Route 2 it didn't take long for me to reach the corner of Kansas St, and the house. There weren't any houses nearby, and it seemed like the lot went on for a bit, I wondered just how much land Grandma actually owned here. The house was in good condition, the beige walls going well with the dark brown trim of the three story building, I remember Grandma saying that Grandpa and his brothers had built this house by hand back in the day. Parking my car I stared at the house for a moment, so this is where mom grew up? The sides of the house were blocked off by thick trees, and the remnants of a rope hung from a branch, seeming to have been from an old tire swing, why didn't she want to come back? It seemed like a nice enough house. Stepping out of my car I made my way up to the small iron gate, the lock a little rusty, but working nonetheless, pushing it open I walked up the short path to the front door, cobwebs had already begun to collect around the old wood. I grabbed the key from my purse and unlocked the door, pushing it as it gave an eerily creaking noise while opening. Mom had said that the power would still be on thankfully, so I reached to find the switch, clicking it on once located. The warm glow it gave illuminated the Victorian style furniture that my grandmother loved so much, the inside was in pristine condition, as if someone had just cleaned, or maybe that was just how grandma kept it. I closed the door and began looking around, pictures of my mother when she was a child sat atop the fireplace, along with bottles filled with random herbs and things, in fact, bottles sat everywhere, not in a cluttered sort of way...As if each of them were placed there for a purpose, some even hung by strings on the curtain rods.