Sofia, a 17 years old, gazed out the car window, her eyes tracing the blurred landscape as her mom, Rachel, drove down the winding road. The GPS announced their approaching destination: Birdwoods.
"Mom, how much longer?" Sofia asked, breaking the silence.
Rachel forced a reassuring smile. "Not long, sweetie. We're almost there."
Sofia's gaze drifted back to her mom, noticing the dark circles under her eyes and the tension in her shoulders. The past few weeks had been tough on both of them. Rachel had lost her job, and the divorce from Sofia's dad had been finalized. The pain and stress were etched on her face.
Sofia's thoughts wandered to her grandma, who lived in Birdwoods. She hadn't seen her in years, but her mom had always spoken fondly of her. Maybe this fresh start would be good for both of them.
As the car turned onto a dirt road, Sofia's excitement grew. She had never lived in a small town before, and the prospect of exploring Birdwoods was thrilling.
"Look, Sofia! There's Grandma's house!" Rachel exclaimed, pointing to a cozy, old-fashioned cottage nestled among tall trees.
Sofia's eyes widened as she took in the charming scene. But as she turned to smile at her mom she noticed her smiled fade quickly and a sense of unease settled in the pit of her stomach, something doesn't feel right.
Sofia and her mom, Rachel, stepped out of the car, stretching their arms and legs after the long drive. Sofia's grandma, a warm smile on her face, hurried out of the house to greet them.
"Rachel, dear! Sofia, sweetie! It's so wonderful to see you both!" Grandma exclaimed, enveloping them in a tight hug.
Sofia smiled, feeling a sense of comfort and security in her grandma's presence. Rachel smiled too, though Sofia could sense the tension and stress still lingering beneath her mom's smile.
As they began to unload the luggage, Grandma offered to help, but Rachel refused. "No, Mom, we've got this. You just relax."
Sofia and Rachel worked together, carrying the luggage into the house. Finally, Rachel told Sofia to grab the last suitcase from the boot.
As Sofia lifted the suitcase out, she closed the boot with a thud. Suddenly, she felt a shiver run down her spine. It was as if someone was watching her.
Sofia spun around, scanning the surrounding area, but she saw nothing out of the ordinary. The trees swayed gently in the breeze, and the birds sang their evening songs.
Still, the feeling persisted. Sofia's heart beat a little faster as she wondered if she was just being paranoid.
Sofia, Rachel, and Grandma sat down to a warm dinner, the aroma of roasted chicken and vegetables filling the air. Sofia had spent the afternoon exploring the house and her new room, feeling a sense of excitement and nervousness.
As they ate, Grandma tried to make conversation, asking Rachel about her job. Sofia could sense her mom's tension, her eyes avoiding Grandma's.
"Honey, what's going on?" Grandma asked, her voice gentle. "How did you lose your job?"
Rachel chewed quickly, her jaw working overtime. "It doesn't matter, Mom. What's done is done."
Grandma's eyes narrowed. "You're hiding something, aren't you?"
Rachel's laughter was forced. "Me? Hide something? No! There's nothing to hide. I lost my job, got divorced, and moved to my mom's old scrabbly house in a town where everything sucks!" Her voice rose, a hint of hysteria creeping in.
Grandma's expression turned stern. "Rachel!"
But Rachel wasn't having it. "Don't you yell at me!" she raged, her face red. "I've had enough of being judged and criticized. I'm doing the best I can, okay?"
The room fell silent, the only sound the clinking of silverware on plates. Sofia felt uncomfortable, her eyes fixed on her mom's angry face.
Grandma's voice was soft, but firm. "Rachel, I just want to help. What's going on?"
But Rachel just shook her head, her eyes welling up with tears. "Nothing, Mom. Just...nothing."
" I'll go do the dishes " Sofia said quietly, as she excused herself from the awkward tension in the dining room.
Sofia finished the dishes and quietly made her way back to the dining room to say goodnight to her mom. But as she entered, she was taken aback by the scene before her.
Rachel sat alone in the dimly lit room, a cigarette dangling from her lips, and a glass of whiskey in front of her. Her eyes stared blankly into space, her face twisted in a mixture of depression and hatred.
Sofia felt a pang of sadness as she gazed at her mom. She had never seen Rachel like this before. The jovial, friendly, and always-smiling mom she once knew had vanished, replaced by a gloomy and hate-filled stranger.
Sofia let out a sad sigh and turned to leave, not wanting to disturb her mom. She trudged up the stairs, feeling down and defeated.
As she lay on her bed, Sofia's thoughts drifted to her father. She missed him terribly. Everything had changed since the divorce. Her mom, her home, her life... nothing was the same anymore.
Sofia's eyelids grew heavy, and she let sleep consume her.
The clock struck 3:00, and the silence was broken by a faint whisper...
"Sofia..."
Sofia's eyes remained closed, but her body began to stir. She threw off her covers and got out of bed, her movements mechanical.
"Sofia..." The voice whispered her name, low and raspy.
Sofia's feet carried her toward the window, her arms hanging limp by her sides. She didn't resist, didn't even seem to notice.
"Sofia...come to me..." The voice grew louder, more insistent.
Sofia's hands grasped the windowsill, her fingers curling around the wood. She lifted one leg, then the other, her body swinging over the sill.
The voice whispered again, "Sofia..."
And Sofia jumped.
She fell through the darkness, her body relaxed, her eyes still closed. The voice whispered one last time, "Sofia..."
Sofia landed hard on the grass, but she didn't flinch. She stood up, her eyes still closed, and began to walk.
She walked out of the yard, onto the street, and then onto a road. The darkness seemed to swallow her whole, but she kept walking.
The road led her to the edge of a scary woods. Sofia's feet carried her toward the trees, her arms still hanging limp.
She walked deeper and deeper into the woods, the trees looming above her like sentinels.
And then, suddenly, Sofia's eyes snapped open.
She found herself standing in a small clearing, surrounded by trees that seemed to twist and writhe in the darkness.
In front of her stood a dark figure, its face hidden behind a hood.
The figure's eyes gleamed red in the dark, and Sofia felt a chill run down her spine.
She tried to scream, but her voice was frozen in her throat.
The figure began to move closer, its eyes fixed on Sofia's...
The figure's hand wrapped around Sofia's neck, its grip like a vice. Sofia's eyes widened in terror as the figure began to chant in a language she couldn't understand.
The words were low and raspy, sending shivers down Sofia's spine. The figure's voice grew louder, more urgent, as if it was summoning some dark power.
Suddenly, the chanting stopped. The figure's grip on Sofia's neck tightened, its eyes blazing with an otherworldly intensity.
"Found you," it hissed, its voice dripping with malevolence.