Leaving Home

"Zara!" A woman called out, breaking her daughter out of her trance as she stared at a picture of herself and her father. The picture was encrusted in a wooden frame with flowery designs and placed on a small empty shelf.

The teenager jolted, immediately angling her head to meet the concerned, albeit confused look on her mother's face. She didn't realize she had been staring for so long.

Zara shook her head and used the band strapped on her wrist to tie her hair into a ponytail, taking her time.

"Oh yes, we should be leaving for Crimson Haven," Zara put on a false smile after packing her hair, immediately shoving past her mother as she stepped out of her bedroom. One that carried many dear memories.

"Zara dear, are you alright? You've become increasingly absent-minded lately," her mother asked, following her as she descended the stairs leading to the living room and the bottom floor of the house. Zara bit her lips, contemplating how to respond.

Her father had suddenly died three weeks ago, and his body had been found by hunters after two days of searching for him. His body was all bloodied and filled with claw and teeth marks, like he had been under attack by a wild animal, even though there were no records of wild attacks in Duskridge.

Her mother was inconsolable initially, locking herself up for days before eventually summoning enough strength and courage to attend his funeral.

"I'm fine, mother," she responded, but her flat tone didn't convince her mother at all.

Zara went to the guestroom and dragged out a big brown box and two massive leather bags, one in which she had shoved her clothes and any of her belongings she could carry along with her. She was leaving the boring and godforsaken town, but it didn't bother her much.

"When is our lift arriving?" Zara asked, tearing her eyes from the box to her mother's worry-filled eyes.

"In about 5 minutes, dearest," Josephine replied quietly, observing her daughter.

According to Josephine's late husband, Dante, upon his death, they were to move to a town called Crimson Haven, known for its Victorian-styled university, otherwise known as the institution and its castles, despite being in modern times. He didn't bother explaining why they were to conduct such a move, but Josephine herself wanted it.

In fact, she needed it.

Staying in Duskridge was a constant and harsh reminder that her husband was gone. From her life and their daughter's. And for a reason that remained unknown to her.

A car horn was heard in front of their home, and Zara hurriedly stepped out, not waiting for her mother to check who it was first. Zara squinted her eyes as she tried to make out the driver's figure from the car's rear glass, using her hand to shield them from the harsh rays of the sun.

The driver stepped out, and Zara clicked her tongue against its roof, realizing it was the person responsible for taking them to Crimson Haven.

"I'm here to pick up Mrs. and Miss Anderson," the man gruffly said, looking directly at Zara, and she nodded her head, turning around to pick up her box and two other bags. She placed them at the entrance as her mother emerged from the kitchen, carrying a flask of what Zara assumed to be hot coffee.

"It's him," Zara cut off Josephine as she was about to speak, walking past her and heading for her room once more to look at her father. In the picture, Zara was 7 years old, and her father had lifted her onto his shoulders, their faces displaying a kind of joy Zara hadn't felt in years.

Zara reached out to touch the picture, her fingers lingering over her father, and her heart ached a little, the startling realization that he was dead washing over her once more.

"Goodbye, Dad," she said, not wanting to take the frame with her, and turned around to meet her mum watching her by the door. Her hands were folded, and she tilted her head a bit.

Zara let out a scoff and walked past her again, the sounds of her heavy footsteps slowly leaving the area. She headed to the vehicle parked in front of their house. Her box and bags were already in the boot, and she suspected it was her mother's doing as she settled in the backseat.

Her mother showed up about a minute later, and offered apologies to the driver for keeping him waiting before settling in the passenger's seat and slamming the car's door shut.

Zara and the driver followed suit, slamming the doors and soon the car roared to life,its driver maneuvering his way out of the premises.

Suppressing a tear from trickling down her face, Zara let out a deep sigh, muttering a few words as their mansion became more and more out of sight.