Settling in

Standing besides my dad in front of the house's doorsteps, I was a head taller than him and more muscular making me look rather intimidating. Don't get the wrong idea, I'm not that tall , just slightly 1.8 meters in height . If you'd look closely enough, I had almost zero resemblance to my dad. If not for the blue eyes I inherited from him, you would have mistaken him for a step dad or a foster dad.

My dad knocked the door twice after which we heard a shuffling noise from the inside"coming",a manly voice sounded. The guy seemed to take his time to open the door, it really began to get on my nerves making me wonder what he was doing in there.

The door creaked open after a while revealing...... wow!.. dad had a twin brother? I looked back and forth between them my eyes widening each passing second. I couldn't help but get amused, they even were of the same height.

"look who's here...." he chuckled and hugged my dad affectionately "who's the boy... a work mate?" he asked scanning me . I looked at him incredously

" No way.... " the guy's eyes widened "you actually brought your son..... Sam?.. isn't he? "

" Yeah.... I told you about him over the phone" dad smiled

" Oh... shoot, I almost forgot.. too many cases nowadays" the guy chuckled and then hugged me

" Come in , come in.. "he ushered us in. The house's living room was rather spacious with expensive looking coaches. I sat beside my dad and expressionesly stared around at what was supposed to be my home for the next year.

My dad's twinnie brought over two bottles of beer and mango juice...... a fucking mango juice which was obviously for me . Back at the city , I used to drink a lot but not to my dad's knowing. If only he knew I was an even bigger drunk than he was.

"I have to say I never expected sam to grow this big... isn't he just sixteen? "he said popping my dad's bottle.

" He's a fast grower.... " dad chuckled while patting my back " Sam, this is uncle Stark my older brother despite the resemblance" he turned to me and smiled. They really did look like twins though, I sighed.

"You remember when you would steal from Grandma and then she wouldn't tell who did it..." Uncle Stark asked after which dad broke into a rare fit of laughter

" then we both ended up getting spared since she couldn't punish her favorite grandchildren....."dad said amidst laughter

" I really miss her" Uncle Stark said

"Yeah, she was so good" dad sighed" how's meryln anyway?" he added

" Busy as always...."uncle Stark smiled "working night shifts at the hospital"

Uncle Stark stared at dad for a while before taking a big gulp from the beer bottle " I'm sorry brother," he said

"I should have been there two years ago" he added.

Though I wasn't following up on most of their conversation,I knew he was apologizing on not being there during mom's burial.

"Yeah, I'm already over it" dad smiled. The smile was extremely forced and faked, uncle Stark didn't buy it either.

"Why don't you show Sam to his room, he could use some rest after the long journey" he suggested almost immediately.

I was grateful since I would rather watch a boring documentary than hear the old folks catch up

Uncle Stark stood up and dragged my suitcase " this way..." he motioned. I nodded to my dad a goodnight before following him .

Uncle Stark opened the door to the furthest room on the short corridor.

Whilst placing the suitcase beside the bed he said "the toilet and bathroom are inside.....if you feel hungry,I trust you'll find the kitchen by yourself"

" Thank you..." I said scanning the small but not too small room.

He stood by the door as if waiting for a retort or comment

" Have a good night then Sam" he said then closed the door .

Beside my bed was a small desk with a table lamp. Further away from my bed just beside the door that led to the bathroom ,was a black wardrobe. I lay on my back staring at the ceiling my thoughts running back and forth. My room was silent except for the occasional bursts of laughter from the sitting room. " Urrgh!" I groaned, it was really boring in here. I retrieved a pack of cigarettes from my pocket and contemplated whether to smoke or not. I inwardly cursed as I dismissed the thought, I had already promised dad I would change. Better to start with no smoking in my first night here.

Ever thought of nothing? just laying there your mind complete empty and blank since every thought you knew was a bad one. Well right now I was thinking nothing , coupled with fatigue, I slowly slipped into the world of complete laziness..........

Before I even realized it a piercing weirdly familiar sound woke me up. I clenched my fists and unwillingly opened my eyes.

The sound was made again just outside my room's window.

I glared at the suspect which was admittedly,a stupid cock. " Can't you give yourself a break?...it's on a Sunday for fucks sake" I shouted at it.

The cock only twirled it's beady eyes at me obviously wondering why I was talking to it. It then flapped it's wings preparing for a third crow, this time I was prepared.

" Fuck off! .. before I turn you into a freaking delicious chicken stew" I threw my shoe at the window.

I don't know if the threat worked or the shoe I threw at it scared it away but I cared no less.

If you are a late riser just like me you would understand getting back to sleep again was a painful task, almost impossible. It was 7 am ,too early to wake up but I could do nothing about sleep again so I headed to the bathroom.

Standing beside a full length mirror in the bathroom, a pair of deep blue eyes stared back at me . My hair was short black and curly only beards disappointed me. I mean my body was kinda built since I regularly hit the gym but beards,I sighed. My dad always said there's time for everything so I guess their time will come too. I quickly dressed up after a quick cold shower then proceeded to the living room.

" Dad you're leaving now?" I asked surprised.

" The company called,I've got to go" he answered tying his laces

" You must be Sam'..." a voice made me turn .The blonde woman was heading my dad's way with a cup of tea.

" Nice to meet you Meryl" I smiled.

" Your dad told me you wouldn't be up until late" she glared at my dad who was also looking at me inquiringly.

" I slept early..." I lied leaving the part about the stupid cock out

" In that case,I'll bring you some tea too" meryln said and left.

" Dad I have to kill that stupid hen" I immediately said with hate

"You'll have to get used to it, they are many around here" he chuckled . He then took a bunch of notes from his pocket. He counted 90 dollars and gave me then pocketed the remaining.

I took the notes with red eyes then watched him slowly sip his tea.

" You know ten dollars isn't that much" I forced a smile despite my unwilling feelings.

" It's not much actually.....I have lots of them in my pocket" dad obviously taunted putting up a serious face.

My face contorted different shades from anger and embarrassment from the torture I always have to endure to get more pocket money.

I pretended to understand as a brilliant idea formed in my head.

"Thank you.." I said receiving a cup of tea from meryln. " So sweet..... what's the secret recipe?" I exaggerated a suprised expression

" My mom's actually.." meryln chuckled " you really have a charming kid..." she praised me

I saw dad's face change a bit, plan in motion,I inwardly smirked

"I'm sorry you'll be left alone at the city" meryln apologized to dad sincerely. That only served to make dad more unwilling. He smiled bitterly then stood up and hugged me" I'll miss you son" he said.

" You know without you taking care of me I don't know what I would do here by myself," I said in a low tone.

Surprisingly,dad stuffed notes in my side pocket which made my face beam with accomplishment.

" Be a good kid alright?" he patted my back then started leaving for the door. Now genuinely,I was the one feeling quite unwilling seeing him leave. I had grown so much used to him that left me with the painful reality that I was left here.

" Have a great journey," meryln waved at dad. I sent dad away with my eyes . Only after I heard dad's truck pull away,did I sit back. " You're quite cunning..." Meryln's voice made me jump up . Was it that obvious?

" I'm not "I chuckled dryly

" Your dad already told us about it" she shrugged

" About what?" I raised my brows

"Nevermind, I realized you didn't eat yesterday" she chuckled. My stomach rumbled in turn .

She brought me some bacon sausages then proceeded to go prepare herself. She needed to report to the hospital at noon and she also had to do some shopping for me.

After a short while ,we headed outside. " Do you drive?" she asked

"Yeah" I replied recalling how I drove cars back at the city

" You have a license?" she continued. I hesitated since the answer was quite embarrassing

" Uhm! not exactly but my birthday is next week" I replied

" The deputies will be laxing today morning ....no harm in letting you drive" she smiled as she entered the passenger seat of the saloon car.

Under my careful drive ,we exited the murram road and entered the main highway. From there, I sped all the way since the number of cars at the time was countable.

" the security camera will record us.." she shrieked

"they are sleeping right now.... aren't they?" I asked turning a accurate corner

" They work in shifts" she retorted

" Relax,they can't even catch up with my speed even if they spotted us" I smiled.

I turned the car at a 360 degrees angle then entered another lane making meryln gasp. In a minute ,we arrived at a mall's parking lot. I accurately pulled in between two cars then hit the brakes .

"Are you a racer?" She asked gaping at me.

"No...just a good driver" I lied.

In reality, my future would have been more promising if I chose racing as a career but my dad heard none of it .

"And how the hell did you know where the mall was located" she asked again.

" The town has signboards everywhere," I shrugged.

" You are a really weird kid...I mean man .....I mean weird mankid" meryln rumbled making me chuckle

" I don't know whatever that means....but I guess thanks?. Lead the way" I shook my head.

The mall had just opened a while ago and not so many people were here. Meryln led me to the uniform's sale area which was on the first floor of the mall.

" Are you here to buy uniform?" a salesgirl whom I thought popped out of nowhere asked. She smiled to the best of her comprehension as she gazed at me for a while. Had Claire been here, she'd have already slapped the girl numerous times. I was really starting to miss her .

"Ahem...." Meryln coughed lightly

" Raptors high, senior student"

" Would you mind stepping over there so I could measure your size?" she pointed at a certain stand. She noted everything on a piece of paper then disappeared among the rows of uniforms.

She came back after a while holding some uniforms ,but something really seemed off with her. She had this strange serious gaze about her and she seemed....... seemed strong.

"We'll take a pair of each set" Meryln said .

" That'll be 140 dollars....a discount of 20% on Sundays so the final will be 112 dollars" the salesgirl said never dropping the long stare at me.

Meryln quickly paid up and dragged me out if the uniform area.

" What's wrong with her?" I expressed my curiosity out loud

Meryln sighed helplessly," I personally can't seem to wrap my head at how some town's people stare at strangers. Trust me you're not the first one"

Weird. I thought, very weird. That only served to make me more curious about tenac town, I was an adventurer by default. I didn't dwell further ,I followed meryln as she did some more house shopping ,after all, she only has free time on Sundays.

We left the shopping mall at noon when the midday sun was shining in all it's ferocity. Compared to the city's cold temperature, the weather here was a big change. I couldn't help but squint my eyes , I could even feel my armpits start to rapidly wet. Meryln on the contrary was very comfortable, not even a drop of sweat on her forehead.

" Is it always this hot here?" I asked

"not always" she said as we drove off the parking lot. " you'll get used to it eventually"

"I'm not planning on staying here for long actually" I admitted ,I still had friends back at the city. I wasn't planning to get used to anything here at all

" Trust me, I studied masters in psychology at Boston University. I know your kind, you like to explore new things...... this town has a lifetime of interesting new things" meryln smiled confidently.

I wanted to oppose but she was somehow right, I was really eager to know more about this town.

"Speaking of new things.....why don't I take you on a tour around the town you know, to familiarize yourself and all that" she suggested with a mysterious look

" The hospital?.." I hesitated

"I'll deal with that tomorrow," she dismissively waved her hand .Carefree , always putting consequences last, I was actually beginning to like her. That was so like me.

"We'll start at the town's municipal building" she drove to a certain direction. The traffic wasn't bad so we easily reached a four storey building with a mayor's office sign

"The town's mayor, Mr Erick Ferson's office. Actually his son also studies at Raptors academy , you'll meet him" meryln pointed

" Do you like actually appoint the mayor through some election or?" I inquired

" How do I put it..." Meryln sighed " we don't do elections in this part of the country...I guess they are appointed"

" Isn't that undemocratic?" I furrowed my brows. Or was this mayor a dictator who would allow no opponents .

"Mr. Erick Ferson has been on the seat for a very very long time" meryln smiled bitterly

" How long?"

" Over forty years" she replied

Wow, I was surprised. The mayor had to have some secret to maintain the seat for that long . If no one had stood up to him all this while, that only meant either he was a good leader or he was really feared. Fear and good leadership are after all the basic tools of governing.

"That's our gym, you'd be surprised to find many people here hit the gym. Even women" meryln pointed a hall-like structure. I could even hear a lot of noise from inside.

"Can I get a membership card," my face beamed. I was really beginning to miss the city weights on my arms

"That's easy, I'll get one signed up for you tomorrow" she smiled.

" That building just behind the gym are apartments for people who fear living in the forest" she shook her head as if it was unbelievable for someone to live in an apartment.

The building wasn't tall but it was extremely wide,seems like many people were insanely insecure about the sorrounding forest.

"That's tenac chapel...." Meryln's expression fell as her eyes moved towards the cemetery just beside the church.

More than a dozen graves were separated from the rest of the graves. They were even fenced. The hundred genocide, a board read beside it.

"What happened there?.. what does it mean?"I whispered since meryln had stopped the car and she seemed like she was somehow praying.

She stared at the graves a minute longer then started the car again.

"What happened?" I asked again

"Just a mass murder a decade ago"she replied flatly, like it wasn't right to talk about it.

I didn't ask no more questions but inwardly I made my mind to research more about it.

Meryln later took me to the hospital where she worked then we headed back home .

It was at 5, o'clock when we had a quick meal, all the while meryln telling me more about tenac.

Meryln had gone to pick up her daughter at her grandmother's place so I retreated to my room. The moment I opened my phone, more than a dozen missed calls from my thuggish friends and an even larger number of messages came through. Almost immediately, Claire called .

"Hey cupcake" I said bitterly knowing very well the girl was fuming right now.

"Where are you?" she snapped angrily. I took a big gulp

"At home actually" I laughed hollowly

"I'm in your room right now" she scoffed

"I mean...uhm ....at home ,my dad's home town" I stuttered

"You're lying" I heard her smash something making a chill rush over me uncomfortably. I really did find a tough girlfriend.

"No no,you can confirm from dad .I'll be here for a long while, maybe a year if all went well"I replied immediately

" And you even didn't bother to tell me? "

" I was going to later.... "I said apologetically

".... Claire? " did she just hung up on me? I widened my eyes. I tried to call her but her phone directed me to voicemail, she probably smashed it together with everything on her way. She'll come around, I thought, as she always did after letting off some steam.

I decided to reply to other messages then head back to the sitting room.

"Mom I told you I'm fine, you don't have to be such a 'mummy' " a childish voice sounded from the sitting room, probably Meryln's daughter

"All I did was sniff , I didn't even eat it, I don't eat it meat" she whined

" Oh Sam, meet Kate" meryln introduced upon noticing me staring at the duo arguing.

She was blonde like meryln, not taller than meryln making her way shorter than me. Her face was doll-like, really cute.

"Kate Phantom, nice to meet you cousin" she beamed brightly her cheeks reddening.

" Pleasure to make your acquaintance" I replied formally with a playfully smile.

" Why don't you guys do ...... whatever cousins do,I'll prepare dinner" meryln left with a chuckle.

" How old uhm... are you?" I asked making myself comfortable on the couch.

Kate looked at me weirdly then sat beside me "twelve" she said plainly her eyes studying me

" Mom are you sure he's my cousin?he looks nothing like uncle John" she shouted. I get that a lot,I sighed.

" Why don't you ask him, he's right beside you and I'm busy" meryln snapped

" I guess we have a lot of things in common" I smiled

" What things?" she asked

" We both take after our moms, we have blue eyes like our dad's , we are both phantoms and our birthdays are on Sunday next week" I smiled playfully watching Kate's face turn in suprise every second.

"Shut up" she said hollowly. I only nodded my head in response.

"This is so cool" she shrieked almost jumping off the couch

"Please tell me we're studying at Raptors together. "she fidgeted anxiously as if she was really hoping for it,she was really an actor.

"Yeah" I admitted

"Mom ..... thanks" Kate shouted excitedly.

Kate went on telling me about her friends at school and how the school was large until we heard uncle Stark enter.

"What work does he do?" I asked noticing how tired he looked like he just ran a mile.

"A detective" Kate replied proudly

"A what?...." I snapped

"Hello kids ,I see you are getting along" uncle Stark groaned a forced greeting as he fell on the couch shirtless.

"The only detective in tenac" Kate added

He really didn't seem like one yesterday.

"Shower first" meryln said as she began setting the table, "what did they make you do today"

"I had to walk halfway into the forest to get a bag which had evidence..." Uncle Stark complained

" That was tough" meryln said pitiful

" That's not all, I had to go back at the sherriff station only to be informed I got the wrong bag. The evidence bag was hidden in the town apartments. I searched the whole building just to find the bag at the gate,just inside a trash can..." I could feel what the guy was feeling, that was pure anger and helplessness. He literally has no one to blame,that was his work after all. And that growing belly of his,do they allow it at his work place.

We ate fast and in silence, only Kate kept smiling to himself .We all retired to bed early since meryln had work tomorrow so did uncle Stark . Tomorrow was also my first day at this new school and I was a bit excited , nervous and curious. Something in me told me this school was going to be different, the town was . With the mayor sitting in position for over forty years and many people not seemingly happy about it, the strange mass murder that meryln didn't want to speak of, I had a lot of missions in my mind . I fell asleep eventually after lots of insane thoughts.