Chapter 6 - The Map

Fallon POV

I lay in bed, thinking about tomorrow. I am going to New Orleans to visit my uncles. I wonder if they missed me or if I matter at all. Does it really matter? I have a family. No, I had a family. None of the extended family ever wanted me. Now, I know why. They knew I was adopted. My being adopted is probably why Aunt Tricia and the evil spawns hated me so much. Who really cares what they think? NOT ME!

Bruce helped me accomplish everything today. I dropped all the paperwork off at the lawyer's office and the bank. The bank gave me a new card for the family bank account. There is so much to do when someone dies. You have to erase their existence. At least, that is what it felt like to me. I felt like I was taking their names off their belongings and adding mine. It hurt me to the core.

I wasn't expecting everything to be taken care of so easily, but Dave, my dad's lawyer, made it easy. I have a few weeks before I turn 18, but thanks to Dave, everything is going into my name with no problems. It is like all of this was taken care of in advance.

No one talks about the unspeakable pain of death. When someone dies, you go to the funeral home, pay your respects, cry a little, and then the next day, you are expected to move on without the loved one you lost. HOW? How am I supposed to move on without my family?

I look at the clock sitting on my nightstand; it says 333. Bruce and I decided to leave at 7. I could sleep a few more hours, but my mind is racing with the thoughts of my family, not just the one I lost but this new family. I try to picture a red-haired woman holding me as a child. I can almost see her, but her face is blurry.

I hear footsteps downstairs. I listen. I look at the window. It is closed, and no rain coming into my bedroom, so no red-haired ancestors are coming with more news. I lay for a moment and then decide to investigate the footsteps. Nothing could surprise me at this point. What could be more shocking than being a witch or having floating people in my room? Or being adopted?

I slide out of bed and slip on my houseshoes. I check the windows first. Not sure what I expect to happen. Will the window fly open, and the ancestors jump into my room, or float into my room again tonight? Now I do sound crazy.

I open my bedroom door. I hear the footsteps getting louder. "Bruce," I call out, but he doesn't answer. I know it is not Bruce. Something in my gut tells me that someone or something is in my house.

The door to my father's office opens. I hear what sounds like someone going through his things. My first thought is that my Aunt Tricia is here, or one of her evil spawns going through my parent's things. I know that is not the case. Aunt Tricia is sick, and I do not think the evil spawns are brave enough to break into my house. No, they do not have the balls for this.

"Bruce," I call out to him, hoping he will pop out of my father's office sleepwalking or something, but he does not.

"BRUCE!" I scream.

I hear a thump in the living room. Bruce comes running to the bottom of the stairs. "What is it?" he asks. He is still half asleep and looks confused. Welcome to the club, Bruce. I am right there with you on being dazed and confused. I should add a little scared to that thought.

I don't get a chance to answer him. The door to my father's office opens and shuts. I did not see anyone, but I knew someone was in there, and they had just left. It was like a quick breeze blew past Bruce. I can see it as it brushes against him.

"What was that?" Bruce asks me. I saw it, but he felt it. That had to scare him.

I wish I had a cleaver reply or any kind of an answer for him, but I don't. All I can do is shrug my shoulders and hope whatever it was is definitely gone. "I have no idea," I say in some sort of an attempt to put both of our minds at ease, but it does not work. I can feel how worried he is, and I know how nervous I am at this moment.

I rush down the stairs and stand in front of my father's office door. "I am going into the office. I have to know what happened in there and what that was," I say.

Bruce grabs the door. "Are you sure you want to do that?" he asks.

"No. I know it is crazy and maybe we should call the police, but I have to go in there. I need to know what is happeneing," I answer.

I take a deep breath and move forward. Bruce moves in front of me. He opens the door and goes in first. The lights are on, and my father's office is a hot mess. "I don't think anyone is in here anymore. I wonder what they were looking for in here," I say as I move toward something shining on my father's desk.

Bruce and I are both drawn to the shiny piece of paper. "What is that?" Bruce asks.

I pick the piece of paper up and hold it in my hand. "It looks like a map, maybe. Great, am I a pirate too? I would not be surprised," I say.

Bruce takes the paper from my hand. "It is a map. Do you think whoever was in here wanted you to find this?" Bruce asks me.

"Nothing would surprise me. I only wish whoever it was would have knocked on the door and said hey, there is a map in your father's office, and you need to see it, instead of scaring you and me to death. Who are these people and what do they have against knocking on doors to talk to me," I answer.

Bruce explodes into a burst of loud rolling laughter. I can't help but laugh too. "I think we have gone mad or something," Bruce says.

"I couldn't agree more, but mad or not mad, we need to rest before we leave on our trip to crazyville," I say.

"Can I keep this and look over it while you sleep?" Bruce asks.

"Sure. You are the boy genius. See if it makes sense to you," I tease him.

We both exit my father's office. I hope no one comes while I am in New Orleans to snoop around. We have a security system that connects to my father's phone. I guess I could take his phone and keep an eye on the place while we are gone.

When I get to the top of the stairs, the window to my bedroom is open, and the rain is coming into my room. Only one of my ancestors is waiting for me. "Anna," I say as I come into my room.

"I don't want you to worry while you are away. We will keep an eye on you and this house. The creature that showed you the map came because I called him. He wouldn't hurt you, I promise," Anna says.

"You could have told me about the map. Where does the map lead?" I ask.

"I didn't know exactly where it was. The creature finds lost things. The Uncles will help you with the map. They know where it leads. Do not follow the map until you see the uncles. This is important. You must listen to me," Anna says.

Thunder rolls across the sky, and rain pours into my room. If they keep coming into my room I will need a new floor. "I will do as you say," I say.

Anna floats out the window. Why don't they use the front door?

I close the window and get back into bed. I desperately need sleep. If I can get a few hours of sleep before we leave would be great. I lay my head on the pillow and look at the picture of mom. Good night mom, I miss you.