new house, new you. or so you thought.

you expected the big move from california to the small town of salem, massachusetts to change you, maybe even in the slightest. but as you sat in the backseat of the new car your parents just bought, watching the new city roll by, you felt almost sad.

you missed your home town, missed your friends, missed your crush you’d liked for ages but never told. oh well. they probably wouldn’t like you back anyway. and there was nothing you could do about it now.

when you pulled up to the new house, you got a strange feeling about the neighbourhood. you brushed it off as nerves, and settled in fairly easily. you liked your new room, very cozy and warm. there was a window on one side, one that looked right over to the neighbours house, right over to someone else’s room. that someone also had a window, but you hadn’t seen them yet. that was until yesterday.

you were outside, walking your dog when a boy came out of the house next door, taking the trash out. he saw you come out of your house, and smiled when you walked his way down the street. he’d introduced himself as chris, and you found out that you were looking out at his room. he seemed chill, very nice. you were a little wary of your other neighbours, however. especially the older man who lived across the street from you.

today, as you sat at the kitchen table eating cereal, your dad walks in with the morning news paper. he puts it down on the table, going to talk to your mom in the living room. you glance at the cover as you ate, getting bored of staring out at the orange-leaved trees and cool autumn sky. the front page caught your eye.

ONE MORE PERSON MISSING FROM SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS

your brows furrowed, setting your spoon down and picking up the newspaper. your eyes skim the page.

Earlier this morning, there was another report of a missing person who disappeared from the small town of Salem late last night. Seventeen year old Wyatt Hayes was last seen walking home from an outing with friends at around 11 pm, but never returned to his house. This makes five missing person cases reported over the last week in Salem. Could they have run away? Or has something far more sinister taken place?

your blood runs cold as you drop the paper again, shaking your head. seriously, mom and dad? you just had to move to murder central out of all places.