Chapter 1 : Home Sweet Home
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"Your illusion just turned into something real, with that 90's flashback, Torn, released 15 years ago to the day. It's 2:30pm and 65 degrees on this beautiful October day in 'The Canyon'… Everyone knows a lot is shaking down at 'The Cups' this week, but did you know if you buy 1 cafe' shake, you get a second free? Wow! It's all part of their 10 year anniversary. Beer special's you ask? Visit their Witches Brew Lounge all week for half off on all mystery brews! This Friday Night, 'The Cups' will start overflowing after 6pm with live bands and FREE mystery brews. Then hold on to your mugs as 'The Cups' explode all day Saturday for a Halloween rave spectacular! Come on down to 'Overflowing Cups' and see what's shaking for yourself… Have you been in an auto accident-"
Chris turned off the radio, preoccupied with other things. He had mentally tuned out a few minutes earlier.
"Eviction, absolutely fanfuckin' tastic," Chris muttered while waiting for his mom to return to the phone. His Kia was packed with dirty clothes, a few books, some dvd's, his laptop, and some college themed items, including the gray T-shirt stretched across his chest with 'PCP Psycho Loons' scrawled across the front. He had one bag of clean clothes and toiletries, along with a bottle of water, sitting in the passenger seat. Everything else he had given away to incoming freshmen, to make his escape from campus easier.
Chris took a moment to look out the passenger window at his former home, Pandora Canyon Polytechnic. Sitting at the longest red light in Pandora Canyon, gave plenty of time to reflect, while of course watching a few cute girls jog past.
He had spent the last 6 years in that drab uncertainty. It's not that things were tough, he was a genius at everything; he just couldn't find a passion for anything. He finally decided to try something different. Unfortunately not enrolling in a class also meant being kicked out of his campus apartment, even if it took housing 3 months and an eviction to do it. Making matters worse, the internship he had been counting on had been suddenly cancelled.
Anybody else might have been worried, but not Chris. Truth be told, he was enjoying the feeling of freedom and getting to choose his own adventure. His first order of business would be moving in with his girlfriend. He always hoped it would be the other way around, but fate apparently had different plans.
"What was that hun?" Chris could barely hear his mom over the sound of cats.
"Oh, nothing mum, I was just uh, singing that new song 'You're so fan-furry-tastic'... Are you absolutely sure there's nothing you and dad can do to help, preferably in the form of cash?"
"Well, since your 'Father' decided to start his cattery and feline clothing line, we've been strapped for cash. Especially after discovering his allergy to cats."
Over the sound of cats, Chris could make out his dad shouting towards the phone "How's my boy… Oh shit! Honey, did you leave the door open again?"
"Hmmm maybe," Chris's mom said in a sweet but very sarcastic tone; then whispered into the phone, "Maybe he should pay more attention to his family instead of chasing pussy."
"Mom! What language!"
They both laughed. The light finally turned green so Chris continued on his way to the northwest end of town.
"You haven't told dad, I take it."
"It would break his heart knowing he can't help. He converted your old rooms into the cattery, and the garage into a feline sweater shop. Why he didn't do it the other way around I'll never know. Cats filling the house, your father's sneezing and rash, and little sweaters stacked up everywhere. It's plain disturbing. I wish he had just bought a boat or a sports car, like every other man his age. Before I forget, your little sis is somewhere in Colorado, down your direction. Said she might drop in on you. She won't tell us where she's staying since she's still angry at your father."
"Ha! That sounds like her! She'll eventually forgive him for the Thanksgiving incident. The look on his face when he found her making out with that girl from school was priceless!" Chris laughed.
Laughing as well, Chris's mom explained, "You misunderstand, your father was fine with the girlfriend. He wouldn't stop talking about her. Lets just say he's seen a lot weirder and leave it at that. "
She paused a moment and took a long breath, "No, on your sister's birthday we went to her apartment to take a surprise cake. He walked in on her and your cousin Sam, who incidentally was the new mystery boyfriend she'd been tweeting about. Embarrassed, your father overlooked the cat sitting in the doorway and stepped on his tail. Mr. Sparkles scratched his ankles and your father dropped the cake. Poor Mr. Sparkles could've changed his name to Mr. Sprinkles, because he took the brunt of the cake and went bonkers. Got cake on everything!" she said with emphasis on everything.
"DAMN! ... I mean, wow. Dad's got no luck with cats."
"Tell me about it... To make matters worse, your father tried to force a sweater on Mr. Sparkles after giving him a kitty bath; both ended very badly. Your sister ranted about her personal freedom and privacy for hours. I went to drop off some mail at her place last week, but she had moved out without telling us. She finally called and said she was staying with some friends, so I left it alone. Aunt Nadia didn't know anything about her son's activities, so I kept quiet. I talked to your aunt Nikki and she thought the whole ordeal was cute, then asked if you were seeing anyone."
"She would," Chris laughed, "Kim and Sam are old news. They always hook up at the family reunion. Aunt Nikki even posts pictures on Facebook every year of them kissing in the hall, the closet, wherever she can catch them by surprise. I think Aunt Nikki has some issues. As hot as Nikki is, you would think she'd have a guy by now and stop pestering her sisters' kids."
"That's my little sister you're talking about. I'm every bit as sexy, young man..." Chris's mom teased. "Don't think I haven't noticed you staring at her rack every chance you get. I swear, I should have breast-fed you more as a baby. Maybe I should post some pictures of you ogling your aunt Nikki."
Chris swerved, distracted and more than a little disturbed, yet oddly excited by the remark, "Yuck, Mom! Don't go there! Besides, it's not like you're twins or anything." Chris paused a moment, embarrassed he had just defended his obsession with Aunt Nikki, when he should have just denied it.
"Just having some fun at my son's expense," she laughed, "So what's the scoop on your old job at Overflowing Cups? Last summer, your girlfriend gave us the best free shakes, although your father seemed preoccupied with the milkmaid waitresses," she said a little annoyed, as she watched her husband through the window, still wrangling cats.
The mid-town light at Canyon and Main caught Chris off guard; he slammed the brakes to a screeching stop just in time. Sheriff Stanley happened to be passing through the intersection. The sheriff slowed down and shouted out the window, "Hey! Get off the phone and drive you hooligan! Naa! Just Kidding Chris! Don't get into any trouble over at Redwell! I can't bail you out there unless you're water! Oh, so better keep a bucket and sponge handy!"
A little startled, Chris nodded and waved to Stanley as he went by, uncertain what to make of the comments. 'Uncle Stan' was an old friend of Chris's mom and would check up on Chris every so often, usually with a six-pack of beer. Most people his parents' age said some pretty weird things around here. He figured it must be something with the canyon making people crazy.
Turning his attention back to the phone, "Yeah, Becky's good with the free shakes." Chris paused a moment for effect.
The light turned green and he proceeded onward.
"I'll be staying at her aunt's old house with some roommates. Becky's having me fill in for her at 'The Cups' until my old position opens up. Said she's got the perfect spot for me."
"Mmm, hmm, I bet she does," muttered his mom smiling. "Her aunt's old house? You mean Redwell Manor?"
"You know about it?" Chris said surprised.
"I'm your mum, I know everything. Besides, grandma's side of the family was originally from Pandora Canyon. That's why I was at PCP when I met your father, so I could stick close to family, until that damn fire..."
"I know all that. The family home was destroyed in the great fire, but 3 lucky sisters; you, Aunt Nikki, and Aunt Nadia, miraculously escaped," Chris recited the story he had heard a million times before.
"I didn't mean to bring up family, Mom, I know it's a painful memory. What do you know about Redwell Manor? I'm headed over to move in, but have never been inside. Heck, until today, Becky said I wasn't allowed beyond the gates, some sort of safety issue. Everyone calls it -"
"The Forbidden House," his mom interrupted, trying to sound spooky.
"It was called that when me and Nikki lived there with Becky's aunt during college. We might have had something to do with its nickname. Back then it wasn't really forbidden, just real easy to, um, take advantage of guests. It goes by a few names. I personally called it 'The Thunderdome', but that was the 80's after all."
Chris could hear his mom chanting, "Two men enter one man leave…"
"Hold on, hold on," Chris interrupted, "You lived at Redwell with Becky's aunt? What The Fu-."
"Language... and yes! Rose, Nikki, and I were best friends growing up. You could say we discovered ourselves there," she giggled. "Got into all sorts of trouble in that house with all of its secrets. Rose was such a tease, it's so sad that..."
The line went temporarily quiet as Chris's mom took a deep breath and a moment to wipe away a tear. She tightly clutched the amulet around her neck.
"Mom, are you ok? What are you talking about?"
"That's not important anymore. You're 24, have no life plan, or any obligations, it's the perfect place to figure out what to be in life! I bet I won't even recognize you the next time I see you!"
"By this time tomorrow, you may not recognize yourself." she mumbled, then began laughing hysterically.
"Yeah, I guess. Sounds like you had a blast. It's really just a free place to stay. A little awkward forming a life plan with a bunch of roommates and no real job… Seriously, what's with the laughing?"
"You'll get it later. Just be careful around girls, they will get you in trouble. Ask your father sometime."
"Don't worry mom, I'm still a virgin. I don't plan on getting anyone pregnant."
"No, No, that's not what I meant," hesitating for a moment, "Wait, you are? Liar!" she teased.
"I actually meant your staring problem, fantasy playtime in your room, the shower, the tub, the pictures of your aunt… Thoughts like that will get you stuck -"
"Mom! I can't believe you just brought that up! It was one time when I was a teen!" Chris stammered, red faced, as he turned onto Enchanted Hollow Road.
He waved to some friends sitting outside 'The Cups' enjoying their milk shakes. A very busty maid wearing bunny ears waved back, excited to see him drive by. He figured it was Megan since her twin sister Jenny preferred the witch costume. "They were certainly packed for a Tuesday," he thought, still red faced.
"I'm sure it was. Just one time eh, wink wink," his mom giggled.
"Mom, I get it, I'll be extra careful. Josh moved in two days ago. I'm sure he'll back me up if I need help taking care of the naughty girls," Chris chuckled as the audio began to fade. "The static is getting bad, Zoom really sucks in these parts, I need to go."
"Ok, I'll stop pestering. Some things you just have to experience for yourself. Have fun and follow the rules. You can always call and ask for help."
"Not sure that I can, Mom. Wish I'd gone with Horizon or B-Mobile. Mom?"
"BEEOOP!" Chris looked down at his phone as the call dropped.
"Just like Zoom to die with half the bars left." Chris looked back up frustrated, just in time to 'zoom' past the entrance to Redwell.
A quick U-turn, and Chris was at the gates to Redwell Manor.