As we approached the end of the road, a peculiar sight appeared. A massive, ancient tree stood proudly at the center of the property, its gnarled branches stretching out like twisted arms. It had a commanding presence, almost as if it were guarding the weathered, worn houses that surrounded it. The entire street bore signs of neglect and abandonment, amplifying the unsettling atmosphere.

I shifted my gaze from the eerie tree, as my father pulled up in front of the rusted gates.

"There she is. Don't you think she's a beauty?"

But as I looked up at the imposing house, I couldn't shake the uneasy feeling creeping up my skin. The dilapidated structure, combined with the oppressive atmosphere, gave it an unmistakably haunted vibe.

"You, see? I was right."

"Right about what?"

"It's a murder house."

He rolled his eyes in response, but before he could comment, something caught his attention in the rearview mirror. "There's a car approaching behind us," my father said, breaking the conversation. "Looks like the real estate agent is here, right on time."

A woman stepped out of the car, dressed in a long red coat. My father stepped out of the car to greet her. "Hello!" he yelled. "Margaret, I assume?"

The woman smiled warmly, extending her hand as she approached. "That's right. Margaret Kent, here to represent the owners."

"Great! Are they coming for the exchange?"

"I will complete the transaction on their behalf. The Reinharts will not be able to attend."

"Oh, that's too bad."

"Alright!" Margaret said, shaking a set of keys in her hand. "Ready to grab the keys to your new home?"

"Absolutely."

I stepped out of the car eager to join my father, as he approached the house when the real estate agent quickly noticed me.

"Well, hello there," she said, glancing at me briefly. In an instant, her expression changed, as if something about me made her uncomfortable.

"Hi, I'm Tobias." My introduction was met with a cold stare and a spark of repugnance glinting in her eyes.

Margaret quickly turned away, ignoring my greeting as she walked toward the rusted gate. "Alright, Mr. Heckler, let's proceed," she said, fumbling with the keys to unlock the gate. "I'd prefer that your son remains outside until we finish the paperwork."

Margaret opened the gate and then paused, casting a sharp glance over her shoulder with evident dislike. I couldn't tell what it was about me that bothered her, but it was clear she wanted me nowhere near the house.

"Stay in the car, Tobias. This won't take long." My father said.

I usually resist my father’s demands, but this time, I found myself agreeing with him. It seemed wise to keep my distance from the strange woman and the unsettling energy she exuded. Despite his instruction, I followed them at a distance, stopping near the entrance of the house, far enough to avoid her.

I sat on the steps of the weathered porch, waiting for my dad and Margaret to finish their business. As I glanced over at the massive tree, something else caught my eye—a house nearby, similar in size to ours. But unlike our eerie property, this one was different. Its neatly trimmed hedges and vibrant garden gave it a sense of warmth and life, a different contrast to the neglected state of our new property.

I noticed someone sitting at the base of the ancient tree, a girl dressed entirely in black. I hadn't seen her before, and the sight caught me off guard. I instinctively reached for my phone to snap a picture, but the battery was almost dead, rendering it useless. Disappointed, I shoved it back into my pocket and shifted my gaze, only to be startled by a shadow suddenly stepping right in front of me.

"Welcome, new neighbor," the girl said cheerfully, her sudden presence catching me completely off guard. I hadn't expected her to come over, let alone strike up a conversation. Seeing the expression on my face, she quickly apologized.

"I am sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."

I took a moment to catch my breath and look her over. Her tight black clothing had a gothic edge to it, fitting the mysterious vibe she carried.

"I was about three seconds away from dying," I said with a smirk, trying not to sound Awkard. "Thanks for not killing me."

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Mel bursts into laughter, finding my comment amusing. "You'll live. I'm Mel," she said, extending her hand.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Tobias." I shake her hand, expecting a brief greeting, but to my surprise, Mel holds onto my hand for longer than I anticipated.

"Are you going to register at Beaker Hills?" Mel asked, referring to the local high school.

I found it difficult to take my eyes off her, which caused an embarrassing delay in my response. "I... haven't decided yet."

"Well, let me know. I know the school very well and I'm also your neighbor. Hit me up if you need anything."

"Sure, I'll keep that in mind. Thanks."

"Ciao, scaredy puppy," Mel said, walking away and glancing at me over her shoulder with a smile.

"Puppy?" I said to myself, confused. "What's she talking about?"

The girl walks back to her spot under the old tree, taking her phone from her pocket. She glances at me again and, with a quick wink, puts her earbuds back in. Though I'm not entirely sure what she meant by that, I choose to interpret it as a friendly gesture—maybe even a sign that I've found an ally in this strange, unfamiliar place.

The front door creaked open, and Margaret rushed past me without a word or a friendly goodbye. Her abrupt departure left me a little surprised. My father stood beside me, watching her as she hurried away.

"What's her problem?" I asked.

My father chuckled lightly. "I think she is in love with you, Tobias."

I found his comment annoying. "Seriously? - you know me better than that, I'm not into older women."

"I respect that." My father said, resting his arm over my shoulder. "Well, let's put that aside for now. How about we grab something to eat?"

"I think those are the only words you have said today that make sense."

"I read about a bar in town that serves good drinks and amazing food."

"I'm still underage, Dad."

"Who said you will be the one doing all the drinking, huh?" He said, watching my reaction, as a smile spread across his face.

"You're so predictable. Can we do burgers instead?"

"Sure!" he said, giving me a friendly pat on my back. "This bar has a kickass burger too."

"What's the name of this place?"

"The Black Lotus. According to the reviews on the internet, it has very good food."

"All right. Let's get going."

"Hey, Tobias."

"Yeah?"

"Electricity will not be on for a couple of days. We had to transfer ownership, so I have to drive downtown to get the Electrical situation settled."

I sighed. "That's just great. And I mean it in a sarcastic way."

"Well! I am glad you're taking it like a chomp! -I mean, like a champ!" My dad corrects himself with a chuckle, inadvertently adding a touch of humor to the situation.

"You're really burying yourself lower on the food chain with your not-funny jokes."

"It is only a day or two without electricity, you'll survive."

We make our way to the car, ready to head out. As we get in the car, my dad's attention is drawn to Mel sitting under the tree, absorbed in her music.

"Hey, looks like we have neighbors." My dad said, pointing towards Mel.

"Yeah, we already met; her name is Mel."

"Wow!" My father said, surprised. "Weren't you jumping out of the boat an hour ago, even before we got here?"

I remain silent, not wanting to engage in my dad's sarcastic banter. His new-found humor has been overwhelming lately, and I find it difficult to understand his sudden change in nature. Once he gets going, it takes a lot of effort to stop him.

"We haven't even settled into the house yet, and you already have a girlfriend?"

"Screw you, Harold."

He punches me softly on my shoulder, laughing. "I'm proud of you, Tobias."

The time away from home and the new experiences in Adams Town have allowed me to see my father from a different perspective. While his absence was difficult to accept back home, I now realize that it has given us a chance to reconnect and build a stronger bond.

I glanced at my father irritated by his meticulous way of fixing the rear-view mirrors.

"Dad!" I say, with an impatient tone. "Burgers! Please?"

"Alright," he said, finally satisfied with his adjustment. "Calm the bear inside, we are on our way."

As we drove around the tree, I stared at Mel one last time. She noticed me and waved.

"She waved at me." My father said in an amusing tone. "That was for me. Not for you. You are an ugly bear when you are hungry."

"She doesn't even know you."

"She doesn't need to. I have an irresistible animal sensuality."

"Oh, please. You and that Margaret lady are a perfect match."

"Her?" My dad asked, surprised. "At this point in my life, I'll be moving on to a younger woman."

My father gives me a mischievous look, his lips curling into a smirk. "I am just messing with you, man. I'm glad you were able to meet a hot girl, near your age in the first ten minutes of being in Adams Town."

I see the change in my dad, a shift in his attitude towards me. He no longer treats me like a child but with a newfound understanding. It's as if he transformed into a different person, one who is more caring and fun to be with. I must admit, I love this new version of my dad that has just shown up.

Once driving into town, Harold's attention is drawn to a sign, 'The Black Lotus'. He reduced speed, almost stopping completely. "We just passed it."

"The bar?"

"I'll turn around and come back."

As we approached the bar, a sense of unease overwhelmed me. Something felt off. The entire establishment is engulfed in darkness, with no signs of life or activity. The lights were off, and a chilling silence surrounded the withered building.

"Can you see the hours of operation?"

I stepped out of the car and quickly walked to the front door. After looking at the sign that displays the hours of operation, I took one of the menus and walked back to the car.

"It says, 7 pm to 6 am, seven days a week."

"You're kidding me?" My father said, looking at his watch and letting out a sigh. "It does not open for another hour."

"Who do they cater to, Vampires?"

My dad laughed at my comment. "Our other option is the diner in town."

"Let me guess, the reviews were not to your standards."

He shook his head with a grin. "Do me a favor and stop trying to figure me out."

We moved on to the next restaurant, which, according to my father, boasted "the best dining experience in Adams Town"—but only if you were a night owl. Despite my skepticism, I decided to give it a chance and keep an open mind.