HAUNTED ONE

   "Are we there yet?" Jade Hadley asked. "It's taking really long, now." She grumbled testily.

  Jade was a rebellious, almond eyes teenager: A tenth grader with such shiny blonde hair. Yay high and pretty slender at age sixteen, making her really gorgeous.

  "Yeah, Dad." Daniel cut in. "My butt's starting to ache real bad." He said.

  Daniel, the exact replica of his father had shady gray eyes, with a Harry Potter glasses fitted around it. He was smallish, no doubt, and pretty smart, despite the fact he was only eight.

   "Won't be long now," Mr Hadley said to them.

  "Oh, Jade, quit pushing!" Daniel shouted.

  "Me?!" She gasped. "You're the one occupying everywhere with your smelly backside. I wonder if it ever stops growing," She mocked.

  "At least it's way better than yours....FLAT ASS!" Daniel stressed, sticking out his tongue.

  "You scum.....!"

  "Jade!"

  "Nothing, Father." Jade laughed. 

  "Oh, it better be or else...."

  "I'm gonna be double grounded. So last season." Jade scoffed.

  "Or worse." Mr Hadley replied.

  "Yeah, yeah. Tell me about it." Jade shrugged.

  "You doing okay there, boy?"

  "Doing okay?! Dad it's fucking hot in here."

  "Words, son. Words!" Mr Hadley cautioned.

  "Oops. Sorry." Daniel giggled.

  "Will deal with ya later," Jade whispered to him, acting normal again.

  "Dad, do you think Mum's gonna be coming home for Christmas?" asked Daniel.

  "No, son. Don't really think so." Mr Hadley replied.

  "Like she's ever free?" Jade scoffed.

  "Jade, you know your mum's always busy at work, but don't worry, I know she'll come around." He said, taking a peek at the mirror. 

  Reading the expression on their faces, a faint smile broke across his lips. "You two okay there?" He added, "I know you guys miss your mum so much, and I know she does, but you gotta...."

  "Dad, look out!" Jade cried, seeing an haggard old lady appear suddenly.

  "Whoa!" Mr Hadley exclaimed, jerking the car to a stop. "Baby, why'd you scream so loud?

  "Yes, J! Are you crazy?! You almost got us killed" Daniel scolded.

  "I...I thought I saw something," She shivered. "I...Gosh! I'm so sorry, Dad. I-I shouldn't have screamed like that. I just...."

  "Well, you keep your silly thoughts to yourself!" Daniel broke in, eyeing her. "Imagine if dad had no control of the brake?"

  "Be quiet, Danny." Mr Hadley hushed. 

  "But dad...."

  "I said be quiet!" He glared, as Daniel huffed, averting his gaze. "Good. Now baby, why don't you just listen to some music and take your mind off whatever thing you said you saw? It's just your mind playing tricks on you. So there's nothing to be worried about. " He assured.

  "Yeah. Sure." She said, a reluctant smile eluding her dry lips.

  She searched for her headphone in one of the bags that laid by the corner, quickly getting it out, as she made to listen to one of her favorite songs; sitting out the rest of the journey in silence, as they drove past swaying trees and fogged houses in the cold, lonely street - Houston.

JADE'S P.O.V

   Our new house was nothing like the old one. Even our rez was a lot more different from Sully, and I hated the fact we had to move from such scenery to one creepy, old house having nothing but weird picture frames and drawings, alongside hovering cobwebs standing on every corner. I'd have sworn no one had lived here for a century if not the previous owner came telling Dad about it.

  "Psst, over here," Daniel beckoned to me as I averted my gaze from the dark room.

 I'd thought I heard whispering voices come from inside, but it couldn't have been real, could it now?

  I made towards him, shoulders partly shrugged and arms crossed. "What's that?"

  "Man, you gotta see this." He grinned, pulling me with him.

  "See what!? Danny, I swear, if you play your silly pranks on me one more time, I will -" I stopped, mouth agape. "What the hell!?" I exclaimed, staring at the scattered tools lined up on the musty rug.

  "You ain't seen nothing, dude." He chuckled, motioning to his left.

  There, on the faded, dirty-beaten wall, stood a red marking; the writing, nothing I've ever seen. "My God!" 

  "What does it say?" Daniel asked.

  "I don't know, maybe -" I stopped, hearing footsteps on the hard, bare ground right out the door.

 "Ah, jeez! We're so in," Daniel panicked. "Dad can't know we went this far. He'll kill us!" He vibrated.

  "Shush. Come with me." I tugged at his sleeves, biting my lower lip.

  I groaned slightly, rolling my eyes around, as I scanned for the perfect hiding spot. Almost giving up, I prayed silently, scanning the room one more time, as I caught a glimpse of a door that I'm sure wasn't there before. 

  That door, I wondered, not so sure.

  "I see it! I see a door up ahead." Danny's voice came snapping me out of thought, as I felt his hand slip out of mine.

  "Danny! Danny, come here," I whispered lowly, following him across the room.

  "Hurry, Jade! Dad will be here any minute." He said to me, turning the handle, as the door jerked open, revealing an eye-opening secret.