TAP
TAP
TAP
Drumming her fingers against the steering wheel, Raven drove down the endless road, surrounded by thick, dark woods—only a few cars passed every few minutes, indicating the long journey to her new home.
RING
RING
She turned her gaze from the road to her passenger, packed with stuff she was taking from her home, trying to find her phone. Her eyes zeroed in on the lit screen coming from under her handbag.
'Aunt Mel,'
Her aunt's name flashed on the screen as her phone continued ringing. Her gaze switched between the phone and the road, contemplating whether she should answer it or leave it ringing. She never liked being on the phone while driving, and she still had to connect her phone to her car. But the thought of her aunt worrying about her got the best of her. Giving a glance at the road, ensuring that there were no oncoming cars, Raven reached across the console for her phone. Successfully retrieving her phone, Raven turned her focus back to the road only to hit the brakes, causing her phone to slip from her hands as she gripped the steering wheel. A massive wolf leaped across the road, and her car missed the wolf by a few inches. With an erratically beating heart, she watched the wolf in front of her car in the middle of the road, staring at each other.
Raven sat in her car in shock from nearly hitting the wolf. She sat and watched the wolf spare her one last glance before slowly crossing the road and disappearing into the thick, looming woods. Letting out the breath she was holding and having forgotten about her phone as she collected herself and released the brakes, the car slowly started moving as she continued on her journey. After a couple of minutes, she spotted a sign a few feet away from her on the side of the road.
"Welcome to Blackwater," Raven read out loud from the sign as she passed it, rolling down her window, the smell of the trees instantly hitting her as she drove into town. Raven watched the people on the sidewalk, laughing and chatting. She passed her aunt's diner. She could spot it through the glass window, and on the other side of the road, the dark, alluring ocean was splashing against the beach. After a few minutes, her car came to a stop in front of her aunt's two-story house next to her aunt's car.
She sat in her car, staring at the house. A rush of emotion hit her, but she suppressed it. 'You are okay,' she thought. Her aunt's head popped up through the window; her aunt's smiling face stared at her before disappearing. A few seconds passed as she reappeared a few seconds later, coming through the front door straight toward her. Quickly exiting the car, her aunt grabbed her in a hug once she reached her. "You are here!" her aunt exclaimed, sounding relieved.
"Aunt Mel, you saw me a few weeks ago," she told her aunt, pulling away from the hug. "So? I missed you," her aunt said as she walked to the back of her car. "I missed you too, Aunt Mel," she whispered, meaning every word. Raven stared at the house that seemed so nestled between the trees as the woods stood tall behind the house. The sound of the trunk opening pulled Raven from her trance as rustling sounds followed and then silence. And that was not good.
"OH MY GOODNESS!"
Raven quickly rushed to the back of the car as her aunt pulled her bags from the back. Reaching out to grab one of the bags, she was blocked by her aunt from her reach. "Raven Drew," her aunt exclaimed shockingly, "Does it look like I cannot pick up suitcases? I am not old, you know?" her aunt said the last part softly.
Opening her mouth to assure her aunt, she knew that she could lift the bags, but her aunt came to a sudden realization. "Maybe that is why I haven't had a date in two years. I am old, and people think I am not capable of doing something myself. Well, I will show them." Her aunt said more confidently. Not giving Raven a chance to protest, she picked up the two suitcases determinedly with a struggle and began awkwardly dragging the suitcases up the front porch and into the house.
Raven shook her head at her aunt, a small smile on her face as she grabbed a box before rushing inside after her aunt.
"Aunt Mel, you're only 32!"
***
Stepping into the house, Raven was instantly wrapped in warmth. A fire crackled in the distance, the smell of baked goods filling her nose. A staircase was in front of her, leading to the second floor, with photos scattered across the wall, a coat rack to her left, and the carpet soft under her feet. Raven stepped closer to the wall full of photos. Some were of her, others were with friends, and another photo was of Aunt Mel holding a key in front of the diner. Raven looked at the photo on the far right. It was a photo of her aunt when she was younger, along with a boy and her father smiling at the camera. Her eyes lingered on her aunt as she heard footsteps approaching. Looking to the side, her aunt stood there with a small smile on her face.
"Are you ready to see your room?" Aunt Mel questioned me softly. Nodding, Raven followed behind her aunt up the stairs, turning left. A white door closed, and her suitcases sat next to the door. Her aunt opened the door, walking in first, and she followed behind her, staring in awe at the cream-colored walls and a double bed with white covers on the other side of the room. A few steps led up to a small space with two bookshelves on either side and a double glass door leading to a small balcony.
With a smile on her face, she walked deeper into her room, brushing her fingers over the bed and taking in her new room, which already felt like hers. After unloading the car, her room was filled with boxes and her suitcases, her stuff scattered across the room. After unboxing her books, she continued to unpack her clothes and the rest of her things. Her room now had bits and pieces of her identity, providing a source of comfort. Raven grabbed the last item from the box, the music box her mother got her when she was little. Placing it on her nightstand.
KNOCK
KNOCK
Raven's head snapped to her door as it opened with a gradual movement, and her aunt entered and observed her room.
"Your room looks beautiful," she said as she continued to study her room.
"Thanks, Aunt Mel." Raven thanked her as her aunt turned to face her.
"So I wanted you to have a home-cooked meal on your first day here, but I can't cook, so how about some pizza?" she asked.
"Pizza is fine," Raven answered as she folded the empty box.
"A margarita pizza?" her aunt asked.
"Perfect," she answered without delay.
Being all alone, she decided to take a walk through the woods. Remembering what her aunt had earlier mentioned, there were many trails that she could take, but she needed to be careful, as there could be wild animals, and to stick to the trail; otherwise, she could get lost.
The leaves cracked underneath her feet as she strolled through the woods. As she descended deeper, it grew darker and thicker. Passing a small green cabin on her walk, the sound of rushing water was nearby. Raven followed the sound as she walked past trees, coming to a stop in front of a large stream passing by the woods and continuing on the other side of the stream. The smell of rain and leaves filled her nostrils. The sounds of life in the woods were oddly comforting.
CROAK
Her steps came to a halt as she stared at the raven sitting on the log, staring at her.
"Why do creepy things always happen to me?" she muttered to herself, keeping her gaze locked on the bird. It seemed that everywhere she went, a raven showed up.
Holding her hand out, the raven stared at her before it swiftly landed on her outstretched hand.
"Oh, my goodness," she gritted out as she held the bird in her hand. She did not expect it to come to her.
"You're not so bad," she said, brushing her hand gently down its feathers.
Goosebumps spread down her back as she felt a presence behind her, and a breeze brushed up against her back, looking behind her only to find that there was no one there.
CROAK
Dropping her hand, the bird flew away as her heart beat out of her chest as fear spread over her body. She stood frozen, digging her fingers into her thumb. She let out a calming breath as she recounted the melody in her head.
Her body grew calmer. Thunder cracked from above, and rain poured from the heavens. She looked up at the black clouds, closed her eyes, and welcomed the blessing. Raven took this as a sign that it was time to go home.
Eyes followed the girl who went back the way she had come.