"Blackwell Mound! A place of opportunity!" My mom cheers, her brown hair flying in the wind, as our car passes the wooden welcome sign.

I furrow my eyebrows at the name, it sounds creepy and uninviting. Who would want to live in a place that's named so creepily?

"Mom, isn't it kind of weird to name a town 'Blackwell Mound'?" I question. I let out a soft scoff when she shakes her head.

"Really, mom? We could have moved to North Carolina where aunt Tracy lives, instead of here."

Yesterday, at six thirty in the morning my mother woke me up from my peaceful slumber. She forced me out of my bed while I kept groaning how early it was. When she told me that I have to pack my clothes, and that we are leaving, I got snapped out of my sleepy state as I began to question her why.

Mom suspected my dad of cheating, saying that he's been very distant. I thought it was probably one of those articles in the magazine Cosmopolitan that told her that dad's cheating on her. However, yesterday while she was cleaning, mom found an underwear made of red lace inside dad's briefcase that he carelessly stuffed under their bed. It wasn't hers. She showed it to me, ranting about dad being with different women behind her back.

Normally, when she would ramble about it, I would tell her not to rush with ideas, and say dad's just busy at work. He usually goes on business trips. But when I saw the evidence and summed it all up, I knew mom was right this time. Without another word, I followed her.

So, here we are now after travelling for two days. In a town that I didn't even know existed.

"So what if the name is weird? It's unique!" She exclaims, slapping her hand on the wheel as if it would prove her remark.

"And besides, your aunt Tracy is in Germany for work. She wouldn't be home for another month." She pursed her glossy lips into a thin line.

Sighing, I closed my eyes and rested my head against the window. I just shut my mouth, knowing if I argued more, she'd definitely yell at me. But one question just seemed to linger in my head, begging for me to ask and find out the answer. Not able to resist the temptation, I ask, catching mom off guard, making her eyes go wide as I speak.

"Why didn't you defend yourself as his wife and confront him? Why did you just let him do this to you?"

Her lips formed a tight line again, her grip on the steering wheel tightening, making her knuckles turn white.

"I wish I knew the answer, Lucy, but I don't. Yet." She mutters. I look away, not wanting to make her even more sad or angry. The car turned to the left then to the right and soon, a few buildings appeared.

From what I could see, Blackwell Mound wasn't a big place. The buildings grew closer by the second until we arrived in town. A few people walked on the sidewalks while others drove in their cars like us. Mom continued to drive, probably searching for something. When she smiles and claps her hands, I know she found it.

"Finally! Here's one!" She parked the car in front of a small building.

I should have known.

"Well, I'll just buy a few groceries for today, okay? Just wait here in the car, I won't take long." Mom assured me.

She got out of the car, not bothering to turn the car's engine off. Then, an idea came to my mind. Maybe I could tour around and see the whole town. See a few places that may interest me.

"Mom!" I called, while stepping out to catch her and making her spin around.

"What is it, Lucy?"

"Can I fill up the gas?" I asked once I reached her. She smiles and nods.

"There's extra cash under the driver's seat." She mumbled and I gave her a thumbs up.

"I'll be back." I grinned and watched as she walked inside, disappearing out of my sight. I went back to the car and stepped into the driver's seat. I back the car out of the lot with ease, and drive away from the supermarket. I got my license last year, so I'm good to go.

While searching for a single gas station, I look around, seeing different kinds of stores. It didn't take long for me to get bored, so I decided to just get the car filled up.

Come on, where the heck is the gas station?

After a few turns, and following signs, I finally found one. God, thank you.

I climb out and start to fill the car with gas as it's almost empty due to overnight travelling.

Waiting, I whistle to the tune of 'Timber' playing on the radio. When the tank is full, I pay, start the car and drive back to the supermarket.

When I arrive, mom was already waiting outside, holding two plastic bags filled with food and other things we need. When I pull up, I notice she was scowling in annoyance.

"What took you so long?" She irritably asked, opening the passenger seat and placing the groceries in.

I groaned, rolling my eyes. "Obviously, I don't live here, I still had to find the gas station." I murmured, climbing back into the passenger seat.

I hear her sigh heavily, and hop inside, taking the wheel. "I'm sorry, Lucinda. I don't even want to move here, but your dad gave us no choice."

"Sure Mom," I breathed heavily, playing with the hem of my navy blue sweater.

"You mentioned yesterday that you're meeting the owner today, right?" Mom nodded.

"She gave me the directions. I saw the house was on sale on the internet, when I saw the price I couldn't refuse!"

"Really?"

"Yes."

"It isn't old or overrun by roaches?"

"No. You'll be surprised," She grinned. After a few minutes, the car slows down until it stops moving. "We're here!" Mom exclaimed cheerfully, I look out the window to see a pink one-story house. Cute petite fence surrounded it with green grass growing all around the bungalow. It was beautiful.

"Wow. It looks neat," I admire. My eyebrows furrow in confusion when I see an old couple sitting down on an old bench outside the house, waving at us. I heard mom laughing softly, making me turn towards her.

"That's not our house, dear." She said, shaking head before pointing at the other side, across the admirable house.

I look behind her and see a two-story house, probably made out of old bricks. Weeds and neglected plants everywhere. My jaw drops at the sight. The house looks like it came out of a history book about the sixteenth century. This is the house?

"That's our house?" I asked in disbelief. Mom confirms and turns the car engine off. As she climbed out, I noticed a woman standing outside of the hideous house. She frowned, looking funny as she swatted flies away from her. I got out of the car and went to my mom's side.

"Hello, Mrs. Philips!"

The redhead woman faced us, a smile graced her face as she wrapped her thin arms around her, "You must be... Mrs. and Miss Mackenzie." I swore mom flinched at the mention of 'Mackenzie', but nevertheless she nodded.

"Yes, this is my daughter, Lucinda."

Mrs. Philips shook my hand, "Nice to meet you. So, are you going to buy it?" She asked. But before Mom can answer, I grab her arm.

Grinning sheepishly, I chuckled, "Wait one second."

"Lucinda, what on earth—"

"It looks abandoned and old. Seriously, Mom? Do you want to live in a house like that? It looks like a haunted house!"

She furrowed her eyebrows. "It looks fine to me. It just needs a little renovation and work, that's all. And it's cheap, other houses are expensive. We can make this work, dear."

Groaning, I shrugged. "Whatever goes your way Mom, just don't regret it afterwards."

Mom turned and smiled at Mrs. Philips. "We'll take it."

After a few minutes of signing and discussing, both women were done chatting. Mrs. Philips handed the key to mom and was on her way. In the meantime, I studied the house further. Old and tattered curtains in the windows. Unkept wildflowers growing everywhere. The gate rusty and needing a new paint job. I rolled my eyes and—

Is it just me or did something just move inside the house? I squinted,trying to see behind the thick curtain in the window on the second floor. Curiosity suddenly sparked within me.

I have to see what it was.

"Mom? Can I have the keys to the door?"

"Yeah, sure."

I held my hand out, and she tosses them to me. I caught them expertly.

"Now, don't lose them." She reminds me. "And don't touch anything that's broken."

I slowly walk up the porch, then to the front door. I push the key inside the knob, and turn to open it. It opens with a loud creak at first, but when I open the door fully, I shriek in surprise as multiple pigeons fly over my head.

Damn it!

"Lucinda! You okay?" I hear my mom ask, voice full of worry. I fixed my hair and shook small feathers off of my sweater. Stupid birds.

"Yeah, I'm fine!" I yell back.

I took a step inside.

The atmosphere seems to drop in the house, compared to the hot temperature outside. I eyed the furniture that somehow fit the house, things that looked like they came from a museum. I take a look at the living room, exploring the the bottom floor of the house.

The first floor was just like the outer appearance of the house—old. Not to mention, very dusty. My eyes catch a long flight of stairs which lead to the second floor. I slowly walk up, scowling when each step I take makes a creaking noise. Probably from it's old age. When I reach the second floor, I see a lot of crows are there, resting on what looks like a window pane or the broken ceiling.

Awk!

A crow screeched at me, and I rolled my eyes. Stupid crow. I grimaced and let out a sound of disgust. Something smells dead in here! Although, I'm not surprised it does, because I honestly expected it would.

I open a door on my right, to see it was a guest room consisting of a bed and a broken television. I open the door to the bathroom to see rust on the shower and on the sink, the white tiles on the floor yellowed from age. I cringe in disgust when I see a few roaches on the wall. Mom better call the exterminator later. I don't want to take a bath with bugs around, who wants to?

Opening the last door which is the master bedroom, a gasp escapes my mouth. My eyes widen at the scene before me. Hundreds of dead crows lay mangled on the floor. The smell of dried blood and something metallic fills the room.

"Oh. My. God." I groaned in disgust, wanting vomit. I shriek when something falls to the ground, catching my attention. It was another dead crow. I furrow my eyebrows, when I realize something. I know the birds didn't die from a flu or a virus, as all of them have big bites on their chests and their hearts are missing. Something is telling me that I shouldn't proceed any further, but I fight the feeling.

Be brave, Lucy. No one is out here to kill you and your mother.

I then realize something else once I straighten out my thoughts for a second. The bird that fell to the ground before me had fresh blood all over its tiny body, meaning, it was killed very recently.

I slowly look up to stare at nothing but a broken ceiling, sunlight seeping through small holes. My heart starts to beat wildly in my chest, I don't even know the reason why. The hairs on my arms seem to stand, a chilling sensation travels up my spine. The strong stench gets stronger and stronger, until I almost feel dizzy.

That's when another crow lands on the floor, and I, with a loud yelp, run out of the master bedroom, scared that whoever ate those crows will show up. I may not last another minute. One thing is for sure, I have to tell my mother what I saw up here.