Author : Nikki
As I stepped off the train and onto the misty platform, a chill ran down my spine. The small town of Ravenswood was shrouded in fog, and the streetlights cast eerie shadows on the ground. I had returned to my hometown after a decade away, hoping to reconnect with my past. But as I made my way through the deserted streets, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
I left this place when I was just six, and all my memories were distant. But the streets and skyscrapers looked familiar as I hailed a cab to my dad's place.
As I settled into the worn leather seat, the cabbie's eyes met mine in the rearview mirror, and I sensed a flicker of recognition. "You're Jack's kid, aren't you?" he asked, his gravelly voice stirring up memories I thought were long buried. I nodded, and he nodded back, his eyes clouding over. "Sorry to hear about your mom. She was a good soul." The mention of my mom's passing made my throat constrict, and I turned my gaze out the window, watching as the familiar streets gave way to the rundown neighborhood where my dad lived.
The journey home was smooth and uneventful, but that eerie feeling kept bugging me. When I arrived home, I was greeted by my dad's wide, gorgeous smile, his brown hair more curly than ever, and his warm blue eyes looking back at me as we shared a hug.
As we pulled back from the hug, I noticed something odd - the house seemed different. The furniture was the same, but the walls were painted a lighter shade, and there were strange, new decorations on the shelves. My dad's eyes sparkled as he said, "I've made a few changes since you've been gone. Come on in, I'll show you around." But as I followed him inside, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
As I followed my dad through the house, I noticed that the changes went beyond just decorations. The layout of the rooms seemed different, and I could swear that the staircase used to be on the other side of the hallway. I felt a growing sense of unease, as if I was walking through a familiar dream that had been slightly altered.
My dad quickly brought me out of my daze, saying, "Alice, a new school opened up around the area. You might want to join, although it's late in the term. As a smart kid, you should be able to catch up." Only then did I realize I still had my hoodie on. I removed my light blue hoodie and untied my strawberry blonde hair as I replied, "Dad, I can't go back to school now. At least give me one week to get over it." He smiled and said, "I understand." I couldn't help but notice his gaze on me, which made me involuntarily shudder. "You resemble Anny uncannily," he said, mentioning my mom's name.
I felt a pang in my chest at the mention of my mom's name, and my dad's gaze seemed to linger on me for a moment too long. I shifted uncomfortably, trying to break the awkward silence that had fallen between us. "So, uh, what's been going on around here?" I asked, trying to change the subject. My dad's smile faltered for a moment, and he looked away, his eyes clouding over with a mixture of sadness and something else I couldn't quite place.