Don't Trust the Knocking

Chapter 1: Settling In

     It had been a week since Megan moved herself and her son, Jason, into their new home in Arizona. Jason had been struggling with it - he missed his old friends - but he was otherwise fine. Megan was also struggling a little bit herself; she kept seeing and hearing her husband and his voice everywhere she went. Megan had stood in the kitchen where she poured herself a glass of wine. She frowned as she peered out the window; Jason was kicking rocks. He typically didn't act like this.

     But they had just left Jason's childhood home; the only one he'd ever known. The stress could cause behavioral issues in any kid. Megan shrugged it off and finished off her wine.

     Jason had been kicking the same rock for near an hour now; he wanted to play basketball but they still hadn't found time to put his hoop up. He heard someone call his name, so he looked around. Chills were sent down his spine. There was nobody there but even if there was, who knew him? Him and his mother hadn't introduced themselves to anyone yet. Jason sighed, figuring he was just being paranoid. 

     Megan had finished unpacking the last of her things, looking around her new bedroom. She smiled; it was a dinky home, but it was home. She just wished Jason would share that same mindset. 

     Jason stared at the house he had been refusing to call a home all week; it was starting to grow on him, but it still did not feel like home. He looked down at his phone; no cell service. They hadn't had time to go get cable or find a new service provider. He sighed and grabbed a stick, drawing in the dirt with it. He felt a tiny sprinkle and looked up at the sky; it was fixing to storm. He got up and went inside, and almost on cue of him closing the door, it started pouring.

     Megan and Jason watched the rain fall outside from their respective rooms. Both of them were growing apart from each other, but it could be fixed. Megan, however, wished that it was different. She sighed and played with the ring on her finger. She gave a faint smile at the thought of her husband. Almost as soon as the thought ended, a bang came from the attic. Megan jumped, then went to Jason's room to see if he was okay. "Did you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

"Nothing, it's fine." Jason shrugged it off and got up to go check the attic with his mother. Megan grabbed a flashlight before pulling the latch and ladder down. She had a fire poker in her other hand; she was very superstitious when it came to this stuff. She scanned her light across the room and saw nothing. As she turned around, she saw a rat. She screamed and fell, luckily not injuring anything. "Mom!" Jason panicked and helped her up. "Are you okay?" 

"Yeah, Jason. Just a damn rat." She huffed and closed the attic door. "We'll have to buy mouse traps next time we get out." Jason nodded and swiped away some dust on his mother's arm. Megan smiled softly at him, and for the first time since his father's death, Jason returned one back. Megan kissed his head, and Jason hugged his mom. She returned the hugged.

     Megan stopped the hug to go outside to the garage and get her son's basketball hoop. She yelled his name. "Jason!"

"Yes, mom?"

"Come help me unload this hoop and we'll go buy you a basketball!" Jason eagerly rushed outside and took the hoop from his mom, setting it up by himself. His mom chuckled when he was finished and playfully shoved him into the passenger seat of their car. 

     The man watched from the attic window as Megan and Jason pulled out of the driveway. The rat had interrupted them; but he could sense the fear in Megan. He wanted to play with that fear, now.