"You need to spend time crawling alone through shadows to truly appreciate what it is to stand in the sun." -Shaun Hick

CHAPTER ONE

I am not a heavy sleeper, everyone who knows me knows that. Except for my mom.

"WAKE THE F*CK UP LARISSA!" My mom yells, which made me jump a little and immediately ask what's the matter. She looks shocked and said, "Oh. You're up. That was fast." I mean bruh, if you just told my brother to wake me up, I bet that would be faster. I stayed silent as she continues talking while sliding the now empty coffee cups to the car's floor, "Help me navigate. It's ten o'clock and I can't see anything."

I blinked my sleep away and agreed with her. We are currently somewhere in California but that's it. I know that we weren't in San Francisco because we stopped over there a few hours ago.

I unbuckled my seatbelt and went outside to move to the passenger's seat. It seems like we are the only one on this road right now because it's eerily silent and uncomfortably cold with no light except the one coming from the car's headlights.

I immediately opened the car door, slid in, and shut it closed. I took her phone that she used to navigate and asked, "Where are we?"

She grunts, "Can't you read?"

I bit my lower lip to stop myself from talking back and looked at where we are. According to Waze, we are two towns away from Denovan. "We have an hour and a half left on this trip, we're close."

"I know that," She snaps at me, "I was the one who did the driving, remember?"

I told myself that she's only cranky because of the drive, even if deep down I know that she's always like that. I offered her my help, "Do you want me to drive?"

Even in the dark, I saw her dark eyes glim darker and I immediately knew that I made a mistake. I gulped and looked at my hands on my lap to avoid her eyes as she started yelling, "YOU INGRATEFUL B*TCH! I NEVER ASKED FOR YOUR HELP!"

She violently grabs her phone from my hand and puts it back to the phone holder in front of her and continued driving, "This is why I'm dumping your ass with that little nitwit. Both of you are no help and are heavy baggage." She scoffs, "How dare you stop me from living my life? No help! Both of you are of no help!"

I immediately tuned out of her usual rants and silently hoped that Rem is sleeping right now. He doesn't need to hear all of this coming from the person who was supposed to love him unconditionally. But, just like when I hoped that my dad would come back, it got crushed when I heard Rem silently whimper and scoots closer to my seat from behind me.

I gritted my teeth angrily and looked out of the window. Even if there's nothing but darkness, I wanted to hop off this car with my brother and get the hell away from my mother. But I can't do that to my brother, not with the temperature outside.

Just like the past few hours, the car was silent except for one of Pink's songs that is blasting off the speakers in courtesy of my mother's taste of music. I love Pink, really, but this specific song has been on repeat since it started when we resumed our journey from our stopover in San Francisco.

An hour has passed, and I realized the real reason why she wanted me to sit beside her. It's not because she is afraid that we'll get lost or something -the GPS is there for that reason- but because it is my job to keep her awake. I can't blame her, really. She was so persistent to drop us off to a stranger's house and cut ties with us that she's willing to sacrifice her beauty sleep for it.

No offense to Aunt Edith, her sister, but Rem and I have never met her before. In fact, I didn't know that my mother had a sister till that very day she decided to go to Denovan last month. I remembered asking my mom if she had any siblings a few years ago to satisfy my childish curiosity about knowing everything about her life. I also remembered her face suddenly turned gloomy and said, "It's none of your business". So, I assumed it was a no. But now, obviously, it's a yes.

"Mom," I called out when her eyes were close, and the car swiveled a little.

Her eyes flew open and just like the past four incidents, she acted as if nothing happened. I wanted to tell her to park on the side and sleep for a few minutes, but I know that there's a huge possibility that her panties will get twisted once again. And so, I brushed off that idea.

I looked at my mom's phone and felt a thump on my heart when it shows that we're just entered the boundary line that officially puts us in the tiny town in Northern California, Denovan.

Suddenly, the thump became a rapid beating when my emotion became mixed and I don't know what to feel anymore. Should I be happy because my mother is willing to set us free? Or should I be sad because we left home? At that thought, I snorted silently because, to be honest, that apartment we left in L.A. stopped being a home when my dad left two years ago. Because at that time, my dad didn't just leave Rem and me. Both my parents did.

Waze announced that we'll be arriving shortly, and that's when my mom lowered the volume of Pink's song and said, "Your Aunt Edith owns a bakeshop, not a big deal, and she's nice." She paused, "So... be nice too."

"Yes, mom." My brother and I answered at the same time, which oddly sounds close to "Yes ma'am". Let's face it, my mom acts as if she was a General in the US Army.

We're in the mountain, like, no joke. The pressure that went in my ear earlier proved the high altitude we currently are in right now. There were pretty houses here and there, and they were huge. I usually see these types of houses in movies, or Beverly Hills, because these houses are gigantic ones. I mean, much bigger than the ones back in Los Angeles. Besides, all my life, I was brought up in my mom's 3-bedroom apartment in Korea Town. It was bigger than an ordinary apartment, but it wasn't big.

The car slowly comes to a halt and my eyes focused on the two-story house. Just like earlier, there are no post lights and the only light would be the one from the car's headlight and the dim light of the moon. Even so, I can see that that the house is covered with maroon-colored bricks and the roof seems like it is covered with black covered bricks.

"Get your things and meet me at the door." Were the only words my mom muttered before turning off the car and giving me the key. I have to lock up.

Once my mom is out of the car, I looked at behind me and smile at my brother, "Hey there fella, how's it going?"

His eyes shimmer while he takes in the house and like me, he was bewildered too, "Is this our new home, Larry?" I sure hope so.

I gave him a nod and unbuckled my seatbelt, "Check it out for me, yeah? I'll just get our stuff."

He shakes his head no and asked, "What can I help?"

I opened the car door and immediately shut the door close when I felt the cold breeze kiss my bones, "At this rate, you can help me by making sure that you're not going to catch a cold. Go inside, okay?"

He pouts, "But Larry..."

I sighed because I know that this conversation will go nowhere if he's not going to help. My brother and I were raised to do every house chore because my mom doesn't do that, plus, she keeps on rubbing in our faces that we're heavy baggage. I can't blame my Rem if he wants to do everything to not feel like one.

I bit my left cheek and said, "Well, you can grab your cars. You can reach it from where you are sitting."

With that, his eyes beamed with light and faced behind him, "Is it the green bag, Larry?"

"Yes." I nodded as I wore my big girl pants and walked out of the car. I walked to his side of the door and opened it for him, "Go inside."

He runs towards the house's entrance giddily, because of the cold and the excitement, while I closed the door and opened the trunk of my mom's silver Corolla. It's not a big car, at all, but thankfully, Rem and I don't have a lot of things to bring anyways. I took down three suitcases and five large backpacks. I strolled down the front yard by bringing two of each. Afterward, I opened the house door and move everything inside.

"Whoa," I whispered in shock once I've regained my breath. The house had high ceilings and unlike its exterior, most of the decorations were wooden except for the furniture. It's cozy.

"And you must be Larissa, welcome!" A lady that looks like a few years older than my mom walked towards me with her short golden hair neatly resting on her shoulders, her almond-colored eyes gleam with sincerity and her voice is warm and welcoming. Aunt Edith. She pulls me to a tight hug and when she releases me, she chuckles, "Jeremy and Melissa are both in the kitchen. Come, take a late dinner with us."

As she led me to where I assume is the kitchen is, I smelt something delicious and was greeted by the appetizing set of food laid on a wooden dining table. A man and a woman that looks like they're in their sixties were standing beside the cabinet beside the table and gave me a warm smile.

Aunt Edith shows me my seat beside Rem's and said, "The meal is prepared by Mr. Northcott over there, with the help of Mrs. Northcott, of course."

"Nice to meet all of you," I sat down and said, "I'm Larissa, but I go by Larry-" I got cut off my mother's loud scoff. Of course.

"Such an unladylike name, daughter." My mom voices out her disinterest and apologized to my aunt, "She's so lame."

I expected her sister to agree with her, just like my mom's friends whenever I introduce myself, but she shocked my mother and me when she said, "It's not, Melissa. A name's a name." She then looks at me and smiled, "Don't let society tell you otherwise."

My mom, once again, scoffed and muttered something under her breath. So childlike of you, mother.

While my mom was busy talking about her life in L.A. and what it would be like once we're not living with her anymore, I looked at my brother who was enjoying his meal. My heart warms when I saw him happily eating.

Once my mom had finally finished her bragging, I looked at the place where Mr. and Mrs. Northcott was standing earlier and was surprised to see the space empty. And so, I moved my attention to Aunt Edith, "The food is amazing, Aunt Edith. And the house... It's beautiful."

She grins widely, "I'll make sure to pass that message to Mr. Northcott. Oh, and please, call me Edith." She then chuckles, "The title Aunt reminds me of my age."

"Oh please, you're just three years older than me," My mom drank her wine, "Saying that makes me feel old." My mom is currently thirty-seven years old, which makes Edith forty.

For the first time since we entered the house, Jeremy asked out loud, "Where's your husband, Aunt Edith?"

Edith was taken aback by my brother's question and I told him silently, "Rem, that's not an appropriate question to ask people."

"Oh shush," My mom chuckled ignorantly, "It's totally alright, right Edith?"

Edith simply smiled and answered him nicely, "I'm single, Jeremy." She stops for a second, "I have no husband and no children."

My mom, childish as ever, laughs and said, "Lucky you." Oh, mother.

But, for once, I agreed with her. I looked at Edith and said, "Who needs romance anyways, right?"

Edith shocks me again when she raised an eyebrow and replied, "Well, aren't you too young to be resentful with the concept of love, Larry?"

I paused and blinked for a second, am I?

Nah.

"Hmm." Was my only answer.

"Thank you for the meal, Edith." My mom stood up and said, "I'll go to my room now. It's been a long day."

My aunt chuckled and hugged my mom, "I bet. Have a good night, Melissa." And with that, my mom left the dining room. She didn't even bid us goodbye. Lovely.

Mrs. Northcott entered the dining room while Edith looks at my brother and me, "Come, I'll show you to your rooms."

Rem and I stood up, but I tried gathering our plates when Edith said, "Mrs. Northcott will be doing that, come."

"Oh," I chuckled awkwardly, "There must be something I can do to help out." I looked at Mrs. Northcott and smiled widely, "I insist."

Edith looks shocked before nodding her head, "If you insist. Well, I'll show Jeremy-"

My brother cuts her off, "Rem!"

She chuckles and continued, "I'm sorry, Rem. I will be showing Rem here his room, and Mrs. Northcott will show yours once you're finished, okay?"

I sighed out in relief, "Yes, thank you."

Edith chuckles and walks out of the dining room with my brother in tow. I looked back at Mrs. Northcott and asked, "What can I help?"

"Oh dear," She laughs as she grabs everything off the dining table so fast it seems like she works in In and Out. "I'm done."

I laughed at her eagerness to refuse my help, "The dishes, then?"

"Look, Larry." She started, "You don't have to help out."

"Look, Mrs. Northcott," I smiled and crossed my arms, "I know that I don't have to. But I insist."

She shakes her head in amusement, "Now I know that being stubborn does run in the blood."

I laughed, "I guess so."

She sighs before walking towards the kitchen, a few moments later, she comes out with a black trash bag on her hand, "Then I guess you can take out the trash."

I beamed, "That, I can do." I walked towards her and asked, "Where's the garbage chute?"

"There are no chutes, but there is a waste container a few meters to the right from the entrance. You will see six waste containers line up in colors green, yellow, and black. The first three near the house is ours, and the rest belongs to our neighbor. It is usually placed near our garage, but today's Tuesday, and tomorrow is the day the garbage will be picked up by the garbage men." She laughs, "Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to put this bag inside the color green waste container. As always, be safe. I will not self-destruct. Good luck, Larry."

"That's a good impersonation of that recorded voice in Mission Impossible, Mrs. Northcott." I covered my reluctance with a laugh, "Although, are you serious?"

"Are you still willing to help?"

"Yes," I answered her as I took the bag from her grasp.

She smirks, "Good luck."

"Uh, okay." I chuckled and fished out my phone from my pockets, "I'll see you later, Mrs. Northcott." I turned around and walked outside the dining room.

I stopped in front of my brother and I's things and put the garbage bag down. I opened one of my suitcases and took out a jacket. Zipping it close, I picked up the garbage bag and was about to leave the house when Mrs. Northcott's called out from the dining room, "You can always say no, Larry."

"And I always said, I insist," I told her with a chuckle before opening the door and exit the house.

I shivered when the cold breeze hit me and thanked my lucky stars that I decided to wear my jacket because when we arrived earlier, it was cold. Now? It's freezing cold. Whenever I exhale, I can see my own breath! Winter in L.A. is cold, but not this cold. I'm quite shocked that it still isn't snowing.

I turned on my phone's flashlight and wasn't surprised to see that the fog smothered the light, which means that although I can see my shoes, I can only see my shoes. The light didn't reach far. Right. She said that the waste container was a few meters to the right.

I started walking with the light right in front of my legs. I glanced up and felt the hair in my body raise if it wasn't frozen when I realize that it was so dark that the only light was from my phone because the light coming from Edith's house cannot be seen.

I continued walking and breathed out a sigh of relief when I saw the waste containers she was talking about. Although it wasn't six like what she said, it was seven. And the first one is definitely smaller than the other containers. And it's... circular? I touched the container and gasped out loud, near to a scream, when it moved.

HOLY SHIT.

I took a few steps back and whispered, "It's a creature of the night, not a prostitute, but a creature." Was this the reason why Mrs. Northcott told me good luck? Was it because there's this thing lurking around in this town?!

I gasped out loud when the creature looked up and although I couldn't see it very clearly, I had a feeling that it was a human being because I can see a pale skin tone from behind the fog. A feeling.

A male voice asked out loud, "Did you just call me a prostitute?"

It was still a feeling because it is possible for vampires or werewolves to talk, "You speak human? Oh, that's good. We can understand each other."

"I speak English."

"English? Oh, that means you get to speak different languages, that's amazing. Can you speak Martian?"

"What?"

I took a few steps closer and focus the light on the creature's head. I breathed out a huge sigh of relief when he was indeed a human being. Aww, I wanted Edward Cullen. I pursed my lips before saying, "Oh, you're human."

He laughs loudly, "Are you disappointed?"

"Yes," My shoulders slumped down, "Yes I am."

He tilts his head for a second, before asking, "You didn't answer my question, did you just call me a prostitute?"

"Well, you're obviously human but really, didn't you hear me clarify earlier that I'm not calling you a prosti?"

He simply chuckled before whispering a curse word as he fixes his own hoodie and sat more comfortably beside the containers on the floor. Is he homeless?

I put the garbage bag on the floor and zipped down my jacket then took it off. The cold breeze enveloped my whole being, but I made sure to hold my shivering under control. I gave the jacket to him, "Here."

It was a very loose jacket because I really like loose clothes, so hopefully, it will fit him. And if not, he can use it to cover his feet, I guess.

He looked up and asks while shivering, "Aren't you going to need it?"

I gave him a small wave and did my best not to shiver myself, "You need it more. Besides the house is right there, and you're..." I trailed off because I didn't want to sound rude and point out that he's homeless, "going to need it more than I do."

"You live there?" He looks at my aunt's house and asked, "Did Edith move out?"

Did he just call my aunt her first name? Oh my gosh, this homeless person must be staying out here to rob my aunt's house when everyone's asleep. Or worst, stalk her!

I didn't answer him and instead, I immediately picked up the garbage bag and pulled up the green container's lid which was a little difficult because I am also holding my phone, and put the garbage bag in before shutting it close.

I gave the stranger and possible stalker a small wave and said, "Have a good night." Because I didn't want to be rude. Not waiting for an answer, I jogged back to Edith's place as fast as I could without being obvious that I was getting away from him as fast as possible.

Once inside, I closed the door and locked it.

I breathed out and a voice startled me, "You went out without wearing a jacket, Larry?" I turned around and saw Mrs. Northcott looking at me, worried.

I can't possibly tell her that I gave it to the homeless man outside because she'd get alarmed and probably assume that it was Edith's stalker too. What if he wasn't? Then I'd be ruining his evening. I have no proof, yet, but once I do, I'll tell her.

And so, I lied, "No, I forgot."

"Oh Larry, you'd get sick-"

I cut her off, "It's fine, really." I looked at where I left all our stuff earlier and frowned when it wasn't there.

Mrs. Northcott saw my confused face, "My husband had taken everything to your respective rooms. Speaking of rooms, it's really late. Come, I'll take you to your room."

I followed her, "Oh, thank you."

"I will be showing the rest of the place tomorrow when there's sunlight." We turned around the corner and I held in my gasp when there was a broad staircase. We climbed up the stairs and turned to the left. Two doors later, we stopped. She points at the door right across of mine and said, "That's Jeremy's room. But he's sleeping."

She then opens the beige-colored door and this time; I couldn't hold in my gasp. "This is your room," She said, "Do you like it?"

Do I like it? It's like I'm staying in a hotel!

"My room?" I asked out loud while looking around my room. There is a king-sized bed located to the right, and in front of my bed, which is to the left to where I am standing, there is a comfortable looking sofa with a coffee table. There were doors near the bed.

"Yes," She points at the door located to the left of the bed and said, "That is your bathroom," then points to the right of the bed, "And that is your closet." Then she points at my things that are seated on the coffee table, "If you need help unpacking, you can always call me."

"No, it's fine. And..." I breathed out and faced her, "It's beautiful."

"I wasn't the architect- "

"No, I mean the interior design." I laughed, "Don't get me wrong, the room is fantastic, but the sheets? The arrangement? It's cozy."

"Well," She smiled shyly, "I'll take credit for that."

I hugged her frail body tightly, but not enough to crush her, and said, "Thank you."

She chuckled as she pats my back gently. I pulled away and said, "I'll be taking my rest now."

"Wise choice."

"Wait!" I stopped her when she was about to leave, "Where do you sleep?"

She smiles, "Mr. Northcott and I reside in the cottage located behind this Villa. It's near the swimming pool."

A villa. Not a house. A villa.

"There's a pool?"

She chuckled, "Edith and I will roam you around tomorrow, get a good night sleep. Sleep well, Larry."

"You too." I called out, "Have a great night!" She smiles politely and shut my door close. My door. Damn.

I walked towards my bathroom and held my breath in when I saw that it was as big as my bedroom back in L.A. I washed my hands clean, then my face, and walked back to where my stuff was and grabbed a pair of pajamas.

I usually take a half bath before I sleep, but not this time. I'm too tired. So, I settled with wearing my pajamas. I walked to the door to where my closet was to put my used clothes there when I was once again baffled with what I saw. It wasn't just a closet; it was a walk-through closet. There was a narrow door on the left side, and when I opened it, it was my bathroom. Oh my gosh. I put the used clothes to the side and hopped on the comfortable bed. I thought my mom would dump us in a dumpster, I did not know that it was a villa.

But still, I felt the familiar ache in my chest that reminds me that my brother and I will never be a chosen option, not even by our parents. And that ache made it easier for me to be engulfed by the darkness.