Chapter 1- rather not be here.

   I stared out the open window of the car  as the cool breeze touched my face as the car moved.

     I would rather be somewhere else but my parents insisted that we must visit Aunt Laura's this holiday since she lived  alone in a remote area,I can't believe I would just be seeing cows and chickens on what was supposed to be a nice vacation.

"Jessica,Jessica!" Mom yelled from her seat in front of the car beside dad.

  I glanced over to her.

"You don't have to look so gloomy because we are going to Aunt Laura's,you can't stay alone at home dear". Mom said.

  If only she knew I would rather stay alone,I ignored her and looked out the window again.

 Mom sighed as she turned back to face the road.

" You don't have to act as if someone died ,Jesse".Rebecca my older sister said as she continued pressing away on her phone.

 Probably texting that stupid cheat she calls a boyfriend.

  

  I wasn't in the mood for such nonsense talk,she's just older than me by a year,just because I was 17 years old I couldn't stay at home alone. I'm going to be 18 in 7 months and then I will be free to decide what I want to do.

 I was so angry,I didn't want to go anywhere. I had a bad feeling about this trip.

  The 6 hours  long drive finally needed as our car came to a stop in front of Aunt Laura's house,the familiar house I saw in almost all my fathers pictures. This is my dad's parents house ,when they died and Aunt Laura wasn't married she stayed here alone.

  Aunt Laura was already at the door waiting for us as we got out of the car. The first smell that hit my nose was a cow dump,it was so strong that my face turned into a scowl, I looked around in search of where that offense smell was coming from but I saw nothing,what was I expecting when we came to a house near a farm.

  No one was offended by it because they were smiling and Rebecca pressing her phone.

"Oh John well back home". Aunt Laura said.

  

   Aunt Laura first hugged my dad and they exchanged greetings and smiles.

 It's her younger brother and only sibling after all,Aunt Laura is a middle aged woman, she never got married due to reasons best known to her. 

 I didn't even know a thing about her and I really didn't care,she took turns in hugging everyone but when she got to me and tried to hug me I took two steps back. I didn't want her touching me. She should have known that I don't like being touched,all my relatives know that.

"Jessica". Dad called angrily.

" It's alright John,I guess she's not an auntie's girl". Aunt Lora smiled at me then led us inside,my Dad didn't stop glaring at me.

   Aunt Laura guided us into the house and upstairs,each step we took on the old stairs made crack noises,it seemed as if the stairs would fall apart from carrying all of us but luckily it didn't.

  The stair rails was covered in dust, I wasn't liking it one bit. The house was so old that I feared it would fall apart with is in it.

   There were 4 rooms upstairs and then an antic.

   I got into my own room and sighed in relief,no one to bother me anymore.

 It was getting dark already so we got settled in as Aunt Lora prepared dinner with mum's help.

  I could hear them laughing from upstairs,that's why I hated this house,it was in the middle of nowhere where you would see only farmlands and cows.

Gosh.

 My door opened as my Rebecca walked in with a scowl on her face.

 She was swinging her phone from left to right.

"There's no damn signal in this house". She said as she sighed in frustration.

" You can ask Aunt Lora where the best signal is". I suggested as she left my room and muttered a thanks. 

 All she cares about is her phone,all I care about is that I don't want to be in such a remote environment, the zipper of my backpack refused to open and I tossed the backpack across the room.

 Stupid bag!

 I took a bath and headed downstairs for dinner and after dinner I went back into my room. My parents and Aunt Lora were having a heated discussion and Rebecca was still texting her boyfriend on the sofa in the living room. Aunt Laura had told her it's where the best signal is.

    I was tired from all the driving,I just needed to sleep,I turned off the lights as I hopped onto the bed and pulled the blanket over my head.

 I heard my door open, the light swift flip on and I pulled down the blanket to see dad looking at me with his hands crossed,another lecture I guess.

 That's another thing I disliked about this house. The door locks were rusted and didn't work anymore, I can't even have a bit of privacy.

"Jesse I don't appreciate your attitude to you Aunt,you know she stays alone and we are here to keep her company, you should cherish each moment with everyone so you won't regret it ". Dad said as I sat upright on my bed listening to his lectures,I wanted him to finish his lecture and leave already.

"You don't have to always act like a problem child Jesse". Dad said.

 Problem child was a word I was always used to hearing, all my relatives called me that.

  I liked to be left alone and I was not the type to be messed with.

" Just behave while we are here and don't get her upset… Goodnight Jesse, I hope you wake up on a bright side tomorrow ". Dad said as he switched off the lights and left and I was plunged into darkness as I sighed and lay back on my bed again.

 Why can't they just understand that I don't want to be here?I had a bad feeling about this house,it always gave me the creeps,I closed my sleepy eyes,I should just listen to dad and lay low.

   "Jesse, Jesse". Mom called as she shook me awake.

" Mum? ".

" Shh…" She placed her hand on my lips interrupting me as I heard footsteps in the hallway.

  The light wasn't switched on,we were in the dark .

What's going on?

"Get under the bed". Mom's voice came out as a whisper as I and her got under my bed.

   

  The footsteps stopped and my door was kicked open as I flinched and mom held onto me as she whimpered and covered my mouth with her hand.

  I couldn't see a thing in the dark of the night,the only light we had was the moon light that's shining in through my window.

 " No matter what happens don't move". Mom whispered into my ear her brother shaking ,she was scared I was sure of that.

 The footsteps walked closer to my bed and flashed the light around the room.

  I know where this was headed we would get caught from whatsoever she was hiding from if this intruder looked under the bed.

"James!".A man yelled .

" Coming" James said as he left the room as mom sighed in relief.

 Who are these men?

 Who's James?

 "Li..listen to me carefully, some men broke into the house they have guns and they are dangerous,you have to hide with your sister in your closet there's a secret door there they won't get to you as long as you stay there...I want to go see if I can see your dad or call for help,there's no signal in the rooms except for the living room…" Mum's voice trembled as she paused.

  She was scared I knew that well enough.

 Men broke into our house?

 Why would they do that?

"Just hide with your sister there...I will try and call for help". She kissed my forehead as we got out from under the bed quietly,I tapped my hand on the nightstand and took my phone before mum led me to the closet and it. She opened the secret door and I went in. I stepped on Rebecca's toes and as i sat beside her.

" Whatsoever you hear... don't come out ". Mom said.

 " Be careful". I said as she closed the closet and I heard her fading footsteps, I could feel Rebecca shaking beside me.