[Just a note before reading, I'm heavily considering rewriting the introduction so that you're immediately introducted to the characters/narrative/setting/etc, but if I do, then it will be uploaded as a separate chapter. It should also be called "Introduction", though. Just clarifying to avoid confusion.]

A short, straight little cul-de-sac, its entrance barred by a small gate, is lined by five small houses and one that is quite tall. Five of these houses have small, cubical lawns - a mere 20 feet wide and 20 feet long patch of grass for each - and one that is a bit longer than the others, with dimensions 20 feet wide and 100 feet long. Each of these properties has but one owner, and each owner has only one house, one door, one yard and five neighbors.

Before continuing, it is important to note that there are a few rules. Four simple rules, listed on the sign just inside the closed entrance gate - three are printed in neat, orderly letters but the last appears to be crudely scratched in to its metal surface:

* All lawns should be reasonably trimmed and maintained.

* Please do not trespass!

* Noise should be kept to a minimum after dinner.

* It is weird to be outside after dinner. (As Outlined and Petitioned by May)

Ah, yes… May. If you were to imagine opening the entrance gate, though it has never been opened before, her house would be the third and farthest down on the left - a bland, but well-kept lawn, door and house (at least on the exterior), which suited her just fine. She spends most of her days chatting over the white picket fence with Margery, her neighbor. Their conversations consist largely of speculation and, well, “small-ly” of observation while entirely concerning the lives of other neighbors.

May’s clothing wasn’t particularly notable, excluding the golden key that dangled stylishly from her left hoop earring. One might find it odd that she wears the same solid green dress every day, but in this neighborhood, any change in wardrobe would be frowned upon.

In contrast, Margery is undoubtedly the most colorful and decorated of these six neighbors. Her 100-foot yard split down the middle with a cobblestone path, lined on either side by a vast, symmetrical array of flowers - a cascade of color that seems to pull your attention in every direction at once - all leading to an equally extravagant house… though it was difficult to make out all its fine details, being placed much further back compared to the others. 

Her flower-patterned dress, fluent speech and intentional movements reflected an elegance befitting of her property, which she would spend every free moment tending to while conversing with her best friend, May. Of course, if one were to stand at the road and look closely, they might be able to make out her door and the small, simple, colorless sketch of a flower drawn on it. However, amidst so much vibrant color, it would be difficult to notice the one thing that is not designed to draw attention.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

The next house down is much more comparable to May’s than Margery’s with the simple, neatly trimmed yard only decorated with a rock that was roughly three times the size of an average-sized fist. As for the house, it was rather plain, save for the door, which was textured and colored into a number of abstract, but strangely fitting, shapes. The owner, Jeremy, would spend most hours of the day indoors, but would occasionally wander out with a blue watering can to affectionately hydrate the rock in his yard.

During this time outside, Jeremy will often engage in conversation with Margery, May or John - his neighbor from directly across the street - but when asked to explain this unconventional habit, he will simply shrug and make a joke about it. Most assume he just needs something to do, but Margery’s curiosity is not so easily satisfied, so she continues to inquire whenever there is an opportunity to do so.

As mentioned before, John lives just across the street from Jeremy, and appears to have a fairly similar habit of only coming outside occasionally and for a specific purpose: to closely observe his immediate neighbor, Jimmy, who spends all day every day out in his yard constructing vehicles from scratch. Of course, he lays down a tarp before doing so and cleans up every night, taking the newly constructed vehicle inside with him each night and bringing out the supplies the next morning to start again. 

John, however, is vocally suspicious of Jimmy, whom he believes is trying to build a bomb, but is accidentally creating vehicles instead. Appointing himself the unofficial “Defender of the Neighborhood”, John has taken it upon himself to watch Jimmy through a telescope from his front lawn. Although, he spends most of his time indoors, utilizing telescopes of varying levels of magnification to watch the news through, searching for any sign of Jimmy or people Jimmy might be connected to.

John never invites anyone over for dinner, but what goes on inside his house is very well-known anyway. This is because the entire facade of John’s house, excluding the door, is missing, allowing anyone with eyes to clearly view the entirety of its interior. John is unaware of this, and his neighbors have found no success in convincing him, so they’ve long given up. On his door is a perfectly-drawn circle, with no additional colors or details to give it context.

This obsessive behavior doesn’t seem to have an effect on Jimmy, who is the second most reclusive neighbor, just behind Missy, the last of the six. Jimmy’s house is, like Jeremy and May’s houses, very simple. At night, it would be almost indistinguishable from May’s house, excluding the black streaks of tar on his front door. During the day, however, his lawn is littered with tools, components and a number of other supplies as he silently, meticulously works on his projects.

Jimmy talks to no one, and no one talks to Jimmy. This isn’t so much because of John’s suspicions as much as it is the simple fact that he is constantly busy and slightly different from the other neighbors. How? Well… in a way that is difficult for any of them to define, and it would be presumptuous to answer for them.

Jeremy and Missy are the exceptions, because they - like Jimmy - are more reclusive and therefore less likely to engage in conversation unless someone else initiates it.

Though, that is a bit misleading considering that Missy has not been seen by anyone in years. No one seems to mind this absence except May, who has taken an uncharacteristic interest in Missy, since her yard remains perfectly maintained. Not only that, but the cute, heart-shaped murals painted across the front of her house are regularly altered, indicating that someone is actively working on her house overnight.

May seems to be convinced that Missy isn’t the one working on her house overnight, but is unable to explain who would do this or why.

These days have cycled so predictably; advanced so slowly; settled so comfortably into a routine that it seemed as though this would last forever… but everything changed when Jeremy invited Margery for dinner.

[One last note: the narrator is telling you what is commonly known/believed. The narrator does not know anything that most of these characters wouldn't and therefore is not a reliable source beyond what is immediately apparent. That's all, hope you've enjoyed it so far. If you have an opinion, feel free to comment. I'm doing my best to avoid making this very abstract story too convoluted/difficult to follow. Also, I've marked this as having "traumatizing content" becuase I will touch very directly on some dark themes. I don't really know if it qualifies that tag... but I felt like I should give some indication that this is not ENTIRELY just a light-hearted story.]