It's funny how words can affect life. Words can make you joyful. Words can make you sad. Words can make you have many emotions. They can even make you perform actions. Actions that help make decisions on your everyday life. Whether or not you wake up in the morning. If you eat. Sleep. Pick an outfit to wear. And this is all based on words. No matter what you do, people will talk to you. To help you in the halls. To ask a question. To torment you. People will never escape words. It's the reason we live. And words are the very reason why I sat in the passenger side of my aunts black jeep.

About two weeks ago words changed my life. And not for the better. I was sitting in my room when my aunt had burst into my room. She had said in my bed, talking about wonderful news. I had placed my book down, raising a brow to what she was talking about. I thought maybe she was going to let me dye my hair for once. It had crossed my mind. But no. The words that left her lips was the words I never thought I would hear.

"We're moving!" Of course I was shocked. But once I had regained my ability to speak, I argued. My aunt and I had fought the whole night. I hadn't won. If I had won I wouldn't be stuck in this god forsaken car. Driving endlessly against my will. I left the one place I had know my whole life. The place I had trusted on my whole life. And it was taken away. She had made the excuse we needed change and she had a chance to pursue her job.

I had my head leaned on the window, the cold glass seeping into my skin. The outside moved in a blur. The road moving fast. The yellow streaks on the black cement. But beyond that were the trees. They moved slow. As if reluctant to leave. I could sympathize with that. I sigh, my breath fogging up the window. I played with the end of my black sweater, listening to the music in my ears. The music blocked the outside world. So I didn't have to deal with it. I hated dealing with things like this.

As I watched the outside I suddenly felt eyes on my back. I knew my aunt was watching me as she drove the car. And I knew the stare she was using. The worried eyes look. And everytime that look came a discussion will take place. A discussion I hated to have. I turned up my volume, giving a sign that I didn't want to talk. But instead I felt one of my earphones pulled out of my ear.

"Callie." She said. Her tone implied a certain "turn off your music vibe." I rolled my eyes but paused it, facing her. My aunt's hair had always had strange color. A sort of blonde/red short hair that didn't match her blue eyes. She turned to me. Also she had always had nice skin. Looking like she was thirty when she was really forty-nine. She gave me a small smile with her painted red lips.

"I have known you all your life. I know when something is wrong." She said and I scoffed.

"Oh and wonder what that could be?" I hissed. She gave me a sad look and I felt a sting of guilt for being so harsh.

"Callie. I know you're upset about the move but I really think this is going to help us. A change is just what we need. You were always in your room. Only coming out for school and meals. And even when you eat, it wasn't a lot. I grew up here! There are so many things to do. People are so nice." She explained and I looked out the window. I didn't answer, just looking away. I heard her sigh but she didn't say any further.

Soon we came to a neighborhood. The streets where dead. Not a soul in sight. As if they were hiding from us. We soon came to a large house. To say it was large was an understatement. It was at least three stories high. Many windows decorating the front. A large tree shadowed half of the front, making it look twice as large. A series of brick steps lead up to the front doors.

The movers were already there, unpacking in the front yard. In front I saw the first person here. There was a girl. Short. Wavy brown hair loose down her shoulders. She looked deformed in a way. She stared at the house but when we pulled up she looked at our car. We connected eyes and she gave a wide smile.

We parked in the driveway. My aunt was the first to get out while I was a little slower. I ran a hand threw my brown hair and stepped out. The air was warm and I walked to the boxes on the ground. I had labeled my name on every box even though my aunt knew her stuff from mine. I looked for one labeled CALLIE. Not after long I saw a box with my name. I crouched down, opening it. My CD's were lined up against each other and I gave a smile. At least they were here.

"Callie!" I heard a voice call out and I turned to my aunt in the doorway. "Come on. You need to see this!"

I walked into the house and I was beyond amazed from what I saw. It was beautiful and vast. A staircase was the first thing I saw. Wooden floors shined after being cleaned with matching walls. My aunt had left to search for other decor and I walked into the room to my left. A large room looking like the living room. It connected to the hallway and a door with glass windows. I ran my hand on the wall. I could just see what I aunt would do with this place.

I stood outside, overlooking the movers. I sat on the porch. I looked behind me. No aunt looking over my shoulder. So, I reached into my back pocket, pulling out a cigarette and lighter. I lit it up and inhaled just a bit. I blew out, smoke coming out of my mouth. My aunt had caught me once a year ago and thought I stopped. But I had been able to keep it from her. She gave this whole speech about getting lung cancer. Blah Blah Blah. I didn't really care.

"Don't you think your a bit young to smoke?" A woman's southern voice said and I whipped my head to the right. I saw an old woman with bright yellow hair coming up to me on the porch. She gave a friendly smile but it didn't reach her eyes. She must have seen worry in my eyes so she waved her hand. "Don't worry. I won't tell." I settled back a bit.

"Thanks." I said, looking back at the movers.

"I'm your neighbor. My name is Constance." She said and I nodded.

"Callie." I started but she didn't seem interested.

"How old are you? I have a daughter and she has always wanted someone to play with."

"16." I answer. I notice a small box in her hand and she glances at it.

"It's sage, darling. For cleansing the spirits in the house." She said then looked up at the house. "Too many bad memories."

"Spirits?" I repeat.

"Why of course." She laughed. "You do know of the murders here correct?"

"Yeah the last owners died in here. Murder suicide." I replied. She answered with a laugh.

"Honey, a lot more than that has happened in this house." Constance said. "Well. I have to be going. Spread that around the house. Every nook and cranny there is." And with that, she moved down the steps and out of my sight. I looked down at the "sage" in my hand. I put out my cigarette, grinding it on the doorway and flicking it away. I walked into the kitchen where I found my aunt stocking the fridge.

"Hello sweetie." She greeted, putting things away. She noticed the sage in my hand and nodded at it. "What is it you have there?"

"Our neighbor just dropped this off at the porch. Said her name was Constance." I told her and she went over to me, picking it up.

"What is it?"

"Sage. She said it would get rid of spirits in the house. Nutjob if you ask me." I say and she looks over it.

"I've heard of sage. Maybe I'll try it out." She answered, setting it on the counter. "Also. Guess what! There is an office here! I can actually have my patients come here!"

"That's great. Weirdo's are going to be staying here." I say and she puts a hand on her hip.

"They are not weirdo's. They are just people who need help, that is all." She explains, walking over to the fridge.

"It didn't help me." I thought sadly.

Later that day I had found my room and was now unpacking. My bed and desk was already pushed in here as well as my dresser so I laid sat on my bed for moment while studying my room. I had hung up posters of my favorite bands. I had hung up most of my clothes and folded them in my dresser. I had set a mirror above my dresser. Blankets and pillows on my bed. Everything seemed in order. But my curtains weren't up.

I sighed. I didn't want to get up but I just had to do the curtains and that was it. So, I forced my feet to walk over to my box and pulled up my black curtain. I walked over to the window, ready to hook it up when I spotted someone out my window. A boy stood below my window, dressed in black. He had blonde hair from what I could see. Dark eyes watched me and I gasped, dropping the curtain. It felt to the floor with a thud and I glanced at it for only a moment. I looked back at the window and saw the boy was gone.

That night I stood in front of my mirror. I had a pair of loose fitting shorts around my waist. A long sleeved grey shirt. My hair in a messy bun. I had washed my makeup off, showing the dark circles under my green eyes. I thought about what had happened. I was here. I wasn't in Maine. I wasn't in my hometown. I was a foreigner in a new country. I was new. This was my first night in my new house. In my new life. I had to deal with that. But of course I had no choice. I never had a choice. So I sighed, walking over to my bed. I pulled my bun out, letting in tumble over my shoulders when I heard a knock on the door.

"Come in!" I called and my aunt walked in. I had never called her my aunt. We both had nicknames for each other. Mine for her: Ally for her full name Addison. My nickname for her was Cal. Simple but with hidden meaning. "Hey." She smiled at me with her perfect teeth.

"Hello sweetie. I just came to say goodnight." She said and sat on the edge of my bed, the mattress sinking under her weight. "I also wanted to see if you were ok. Today went by pretty fast."

"Yeah. I'm ok." I tell her.

"Your first day at your new school is tomorrow. You excited?" More like royally pissed. But for her sake, fine. Excited.

"Yeah." I lie.

"It's going to be fun. Trust me." She said and then patted my knee. "Well, I'm going to bed early also. Try to rest as much as you can."

"Ok."

"Goodnight."

"Night." And with that she left. I stared at the door for a moment before turning off my lamp light. I laid down on my pillow, the moon coming through my windows the only light provided for me. I heard every creek in the house. Every movement. I thought about the previous owners. Murder suicide. And from what that women said, it didn't sound like the first time it had happened. What had gone in here before me?