Scratches on the wall. On the stairs. In the kitchen. Our brand new house looks like dad got drunk and had a knife. Trust me, it’s happened before. I kept thinking someone is going to come out and kill me. My mom was gone. Off getting a hotel for the night. Couldn’t she take me? Walking around I saw it. The note I mean.

~~~

My mom was my best friend. We had a strong relationship and she helped me. She helped me with everything. But because of our strong relationship, my dad thought it would be an idea for her to tell me. Tell me that we were moving. I was furious. I had lots of friends here and I never wanted to leave them. My father was dumb enough to think that if mom told me we were moving I would be fine. He was wrong. I ran away from home. My mom found me the next day. I got in the car and we started driving. For hours we were in that car. I realized that we were going to the new house. Maybe if I had not gotten into the car and ran away things would have been different. But, I got in the car.

“Honey, you have been very quiet this whole trip.”

“Maybe I don’t want to talk! Ever think of that!?”

“Honey..”

“JUST SHUT UP MOM! YOU NEVER ASKED MY OPINION! YOU LEFT DAD AND YOU STILL WANTED TO MOVE! I NEVER DID!! YOU NEVER ASK MY OPINION!!!”

My mom was quiet after that. She was too quiet. I was hurt that even though my mom got the divorce papers signed she still wanted to move. It was my dad’s idea. My mom never even wanted to move! I was confused. Too much emotion and hate and hurt were going through my head. I could barely sort things out. Maybe the house will be nice. Maybe I will make new friends. Maybe my best friend would get a phone so, we could chat. Maybe my life will go back to the way it was. Maybe. Maybe not.

~~~

I woke up to mom pulling into the driveway. The house was a decent size, 2 stories with pretty looking windows. The front lawn was covered in very lovely and exotic looking plants.

“Do you like the house?”

“It’s okay.”

“I am glad you like it. Can you help me unpack the car?”

“No.”

“Oh...your room is at the top of the stairs. The door is mint green in color. You can’t miss it.”

“Thanks but, no thanks.”

I felt bad for hurting my mom like that but, she had brought me into this dump. Maybe if I am rude enough she will take out. I get out of the car and grab my duffle bag filled with my most prized possessions. I have too many. Enough to fill a whole duffel bag. Walking into the house I see scratches. Everywhere. They were everywhere. In the kitchen. On the stairs. On the door.

“MOM!”

~~~

“Honey, the house isn’t that bad...OH, GOD!”

“Did they have a mentally disabled dog? Or son?”

“Rayla!”

“What?”

My mom starts walking around. Feeling the scratches. Putting her fingers in them. When she nears the stairs she takes out her phone.`

“Hello...Yes, this is Miranda Nightshade...Address?...oh, let me see...2209 Quater Lane….state and town?...Mascara, Nebraska...yes I have a problem to report...I see…Our house is covered with scratches…They’re everywhere…Yes…I will send some to you...If anything else occurs, I would tell you….I think we will be fine….Maybe for the night...Alright, whatever you say...bye…”

I looked like she called the guy who sold us our house. My mom walked out of the door and started the car. The way she was looking at the house gave me the creeps.

“Ralya?”

“Yeah?”

“I will be right back. I am going to find a hotel we can sleep in for the night. You have my number. You have the police number. Call one of us if anything happens.”

“Ok.”

My mom pulled out of the driveway and I was left in this scary house. Scary is not even the right word. I just can’t find the right word.

~~~

I walk into the house and start looking around. The scratches are everywhere. I find out after looking through the house some more that there is a basement. I crawl down the ladder and realize it’s a cellar. A cellar filled with bottles. I turn the overhead light on and look closer at the bottles. All the bottles have names on them and have hearts inside. Real hearts. I turn around. I trip on something. A piece of paper. I pick it up and read it aloud.

“Scratches, Warm Hearts, Preserved love, Forever friends.”

I stood in fear. What could this mean? Who wrote it? Too many questions were running through my head.

CRASH

I turned around. What a stupid mistake. I saw her and I could not move. I could not run away. Her new forever friend is me.