Chapter 1 Cal

Hi. Im Cal Porter. And I'm going to be living with my 3 brothers. Ryan, Drake, and Son. Ryan being the eldest at age 30 and me being the youngest at age 23.

We're packed and on the road to an old western town in the states. It's called Suyeta? I think that's the name. Apparently it's where mom grew up.

Ryan got the music blasting on some hip hop station. The other two in the back tunes out the radio with their headphones. Drake, whose 27 and a giant, and Son, whose 29 and the shortest of the bunch, are the two I'm referring to...obviously.

We just recently suffered tragedy. I dont wanna think about things. It gives me a migraine to remember our late parents. They died of "mysterious circumstances". The autopsy revealed they had a heart attack....both of them and at the same time....here I go thinking about it again. Just gotta tune it out.

Ryan thought it'd be a good idea for us to live together. Be closer and all that. Ryan's not sensitive....this was actually our mom's idea a bit ago. We didn't get along. If Im being honest we still dont. But I guess I kind of miss my brothers. It has been a while since that "incident". And I had been in college for awhile so I haven't seen anyone in over 3 years.

I was just graduating when I heard what had happened. Right on stage. Something told me to look into the crowd and I just saw Ryan with those....dead eyes. Sad but dead.

After picking me up from the school Ryan caught Son at his Restaurant and practically kidnapped Drake from his home in LA.

By the way...Ryan's an adventurer. He takes pictures for money and collects rare cultural things around the world. Yeah it sounds so cool and he tells everyone how much he loves it. I mean it sounds amazing to be honest. He's always been interested in the idea of "traveling". He tended to speak very often of exotic and new sites discovered by archaeologists. I guess he sees the beauty in nature. Heck..he sees things most people don't. A world full of colors and possibilities. So as you can concur there's almost never a time anyone saw a frown on his face. Almost.

Son is the next eldest and he is definitely the rowdy brother. Can't get him to shut up. Always got something new to talk about. Though when it comes to cooking he is always professional. He runs his own small business, making sure his Restaurant is the best in town. Didn't know something so healthy could taste so good! Did you? Pay for a meal at his local eatery and you won't forget it. Though if you insult his food and he hears you he'll be ready to throw down at a moment's notice.

Thankfully I eat his food for free. Perks of being his brother. Sucks for you guys.

Drake comes after Son. He Worked as a detective in the L.A. precinct. His keen eyes helps him when it comes to looking for clues. Though he can be pretty slow when it comes to other things such as women or social cues. Other than that he was praised at his precinct for closing the most cases in a short period of time while being younger than most if not all of the other detectives. Parents were proud of him often. Doesn't smoke nor drink. And he always keeps his head in the game. But some things never change. He's always been the strange brother. Quiet and always watching when everyone least expect it. Then again we kind of expect it at this point huh.

Understanding my brothers' busy lives it's kinda Obvious Ryan can be pretty forceful when it comes to having his way. He somehow convinced us all to do this a few days after the funeral. Though we ended up moving about a month later. It was easy for me to say yes because I was living in dorms. Initially I had dreaded living with the brothers but it could be fun. At least until I get my financial life straight. Then I'll be looking for my own place. The middle brothers on the other hand already had themself established. Ryan says he'll pay their rent or whatever. But it was in mom's will that Ryan made sure we all got along after she was gone. At least for a little while. So I guess he had to make it happen somehow. This way I guess being together could help mend the way we separated to begin with. So yeah...I was game. I miss my brothers and I kind of hate being alone.

Now arriving in Suyeta. I'm actually quite anxious to look at the town. And when I do I can tell why Ryan says it has a cultural beauty to it. Its obviously native American. I think Cherokee. I see natives all around when we actually drive thru. People of all kinds. Mixed with Asian, European, etc. I see a lot of diversity in the city.

Actually although our father was African American our mother is of Cherokee decent. I guess we'll fit right in....unless I'm wrong. we'll see.

It looks like they're setting up for some festival. Though now I see ladies. Gorgeous ladies in old style native costume. My mind goes elsewhere.

Ryan laughs, seeing me eyeing them down.

"You're gonna get prosecuted with those eyes Cal. "

Yeah. He's probably right. Though when I look back they're giggling and waving. Batting they're pretty almond eyes at me.

"Well You're driving slow enough" I smirk at the girls. They couldn't be any younger than 20 and no older than 23. But looks can be deceiving. As I'm sure I will find out.

"We ARE in town" Ryan started, "plus I wanna give you guys the chance to view the place a little before we get to our new home."

Ryan proceeds to make his point by calling out to both Drake and Son. He practically has to smack them to get their attention. Son was already looking for empty spaces for him to set up his Restaurant. Drake was already set with his job at the local police station. He simply transferred. I should probably look for a job myself but I think Im just gonna wing it. See what happens. I like letting opportunities come to me. And if they don't I just look for them later. Simple as that.

Driving up to what is to be our new home in the residential district of Seyuta, I see a few neighbors. Among them is an old man who seems very wary of us already. (I Found a home to TP.)

The neighborhood looks pretty enough. Though it's pretty old too. Gonna have to go closer to town later to find people my age to "socialize" with. After getting the stiff laziness out of me I decide to exit the vehicle.

As I'm exiting the vehicle I notice Drake looking around at the neighbors' homes. (Is he looking to TP too?) Most definitely not. Drake isn't the type to "have fun" like I am. No no no. See that's why Ryan here is my brother. We like cabbage. Carnage. Damn. My bad that was a typo.

Exiting the vehicle, Drake began to stare at the house after viewing the other homes with mild curiosity. I look as well curious to see why he's staring so intently. It's as if he has a question on his mind. Son notices it as well. Just as Son Is about to break the silence Drake speaks up saying "Thats weird."

Ryan looks up from unloading the vehicle seeing both Son and I wondering what's up with Drake.

"What's wrong guys?" he laughs at first but sees none of us respond.

Son just shrugs at him and looks back at Drake.

"Drake you good?" Ryan asks again.

"Yeah." Drake finally responds. "Its Just...so weird."

He points at the houses next to ours. "the neighbors houses are built a good three house distance away from ours. We have a lot of intentional space. And our home looks older than the other homes."

When spoken, it was as if on instinct we all look around just like he had and realized it was true. The houses are spaced just like he said. They also look newer.

"Yeah, now that you mention it, I noticed that when I looked at the house two months back. " Ryan spoke up, breaking the silence.

"Salesman said it was here long before the other houses and had a lot of makeovers."

"And we're suppose to live in it?" Son asks almost offended.

"Dont worry. apparently not even a category 4 storm could knock this beauty down. it's made of sturdy stuff haha. You guys aren't scared are you?" There was so much "tease" in his tone that you could cut it with a knife.

"Hell no." I walk past him towards the house. "What's there to be scared of?" He just laughed like a jackass. Probably because he is one.

Ryan throws me the keys and I catch them, opening the front door as he and Son approaches with some luggage.

The moment the door open a brush of staleness slaps me dead in the face. Like opening a window on a stormy day first thing in the morning. Or the bathroom door when your roommate drops a big one. Ugh.

I hate stale scents....like....more than normal people. I'm gonna have an extra cleaning fit with this place before I settle in....

Ryan makes a stink face as he enter the home. Son follows suit and they walk right on through into what I believe is the living room.

I turn to see Drake coming with his stuff but beyond him something catches my eye. A man in an old Cherokee costume. He just stares at me though. Me or the house. Either one is creepy regardless. If hes dressed like that he must be participating in the town festivities?

Just as I'm about to shout a hello the truck with our furniture pulls up in front of the house and it blocks my view. I look beyond it to see the man is now gone. He only adds to his creep factor.

Whatever. I literally got better things to do than have a stare off with some spooky old native of the town. I grab my things and head into the house.

Okay. So this is a single story house and my brother Ryan is renting about two months of it out currently. He said something about seeing how well he settles before buying it out right. While loading in furniture I could tell this place is actually a beauty. Not too fancy and not too boring either. It has a gorgeous backyard with a storage and there's a room for all of us in the living quarters. once the moving services leave we get to cleaning. Like hardcore cleaning. Though I did stopped by the town for some more cleaning products. I somehow managed to ring my brothers into helping out and we have a good bit of fun. We practically bleach the house and super scrubbed till our limbs were numb.

Afterwards though we all end up collapsing and slipping into mini comas for the day. Too tired to explore the town. We slept through....until night came.

My dream is that of treachery. I see red. I'm in the house. The new one I mean. Not mom and dad's. I can't see that as home anymore. Too painful..too...red. In my current home though...everything is a crimson sheen. The lights are off and for some reason I'm opening all the doors. I feel....lost. As if I'm not where I'm suppose to be. Or rather...its as if I'm not really here. Then again this is a dream....right?

A dainty fog covers the floor about three feet above ground. I wonder around the home. Having no control of which direction I venture. My breathing is ghostly. I feel...cold..freezing. Like I was dead. Though I do not shiver. and it's as if a shroud covers my face. This is strange. This is all very strange.

I walk down the hallway towards my room. The door is still closed. I open the hall closets and its as if I fade through them as they open. Like a spirit...

Closer to my room, I come. My heart beats like a wild drum. Fear boils in me for some reason. Its subtle but its there. The bathroom door opens...and that's when I see my hand....bony...frail like a thin old woman....but deathly and too thin to be healthy...to be alive?

....its not my hand.....it can't be...

As I come to this realization my heart rate speeds up. I'm pulled backwards through all of the open doors in the hall to the front door and I hear a loud screeching like a wailing woman.....

And behold.....I see darkness. The Nothing accompanies me as I drift in the blackness of the void...

Only moments later I then see a dim red lantern come into view and two small glowing eyes made of blood stand next to it...

My heart shudders...