SWNOVELS Chapter Where is This place?
“How far north are we going?” Alex asked his father.
“About twenty minutes past Cranberry, near Evans City,” Arthur responded.
Aaron turned to Chloe, a smirk on his face. “Evans City is where they filmed ‘Night of the Living Dead,’ or as I like to call it …”
“Chloe’s story.” She cut him off with a smirk of her own.
Aaron’s disappointment was evident on his face. However, he rebounded quickly. “I guess you have me dead to rights on that one.” He laughed. Chloe groaned.
Alex bit his tongue. He wanted Aaron to stop, but Chloe didn’t seem to mind. He knew he was just being overly protective.
“Come on, you didn’t have a ghost of a chance.” Chloe laughed and Aaron joined right in.
“Enough, or you’re both walking,” Arthur growled, but Alex could see the smile twitching on his lips in the rearview mirror. “I swear I’ll turn this car right around. I am gravely serious.”
Silence filled the car for a second then Aaron, Arthur, and Chloe all burst out laughing, leaving Alex to smile uncomfortably.
“Not that this isn’t amusing,” Alex interjected. “Even though it isn’t,” he grumbled to himself. “But are we going to make this trip every day?” He glanced at Chloe who, he could tell, had heard his grumble and was irritated.
Arthur listened to the directions coming from the navigation system before he answered. “No, not once we get a good look and figure out an estimate. Then we’ll have a rental house to commute from.” He fell quiet again, his expression clearly indicating he was weighing some options. “I’ve already picked out a place,” he said after a few minutes.
Alex and Aaron could tell by the look on their father’s face that something unpleasant was about to be told. “Issue is,”—he turned the wheel, heading deeper into the wooded area—“there are only three bedrooms.”
“Why’s that a problem?” Aaron asked.
“I’m not sharing a room with you boys,” Arthur explained. Aaron still looked confused.
Chloe looked a little angry. “You assume too much, Aaron!” she snapped, her arms folded tightly across her chest.
Aaron looked from Alex to Chloe and back again. Suddenly, his eyes widened in understanding. “You guys don’t? You haven’t? But you live together?” Aaron stammered.
His mutterings were answered by a glare from Chloe before she turned her head and looked out the window.
“Damn, boy, you really have no tact,” Arthur said with a laugh. “It’s no wonder I haven’t been able to marry you off.”
“It wouldn’t be proper,” Chloe continued. “We’re courting, not married. We’re not even engaged. I live in the house because, until recently, I did not truly exist. Now that I do, I’m thinking of changing my situation.” Chloe’s good mood had completely evaporated.
Now it was Alex’s turn to look out the window. But after a few seconds he glanced at Aaron, who mouthed an apology. Alex turned to Chloe and spoke softly. “You have your own room. You don’t need to move out.”
Chloe sighed. “We’ve been through this. It has nothing to do with you. I just need to live. It changes nothing between us.”
Alex’s face began to burn. This was not a conversation he wanted to have with his father and brother in the car.
Fortunately, Arthur seemed to understand. “Maybe this is a discussion for later,” he said, slowing the car as he turned down a gravel road. “Looks like we are here.”
On either side of the road, a wall could be discerned through the thick overgrowth. Remnants of heavy iron gates stood open on either side of the road. One still hung in place, while the other hung halfway to the ground, one of its hinges having rusted through. “Well, that’ll be a bitch to fix,” Arthur grumbled. His frown increased as what they took for a road became barely two tracks through high grass and mud with a hint of long-forgotten gravel every so often.
The drive took several minutes due to the bouncing of the truck combined with the incredibly long driveway. Thick woods stood tall, creating a tunnel-like feel. The car interior was silent, seemingly weighted down by the gloom that hung heavy in the trees around them. After several minutes of bumping along, they could finally see light farther ahead. As the end of the woods grew nearer, the house seemed to expand across their vision.
The car broke free into the light accompanied by audible sighs of relief and nervous chuckles. They crept along the path of the neglected driveway, slowing before a mass of vines and weeds that partially concealed what might once have been a fountain. It stood derelict in the middle of the circular drive. Waiting for them was a mud-splashed, expensive-looking SUV. Its windows were so black, and matched the exterior so much that, without the mud it would have been a mirror of black, staring at them.
“Well, none of this is foreboding,” Aaron mumbled. As their tires crunched to a stop, the door of the SUV opened. A tall man in an expensive suit and sunglasses as black as his car exited.
“That must be Alistair Fox,” Arthur said in a voice of forced calm. He turned the key, the engine died, and he stepped out of the car.
Alex was about to tell Chloe to stay put, but she seemed to sense this and was out next to Arthur before Alex could say a word. He caught Aaron’s eye, who shook his head at his brother. Mr. Fox strode over, hand extended. Arthur shook it then introduced Chloe. Alex was quickly by her side. Introductions were made, followed by a brief moment as everyone waited for someone to speak.
Mr. Fox smiled. Chloe noticed it wasn’t a pleasant smile. “Well, let me present the Van Tassel Manor.” He spread his arms wide, taking in the large house. “I agree, it needs some work.” He nodded to Arthur. Stepping in front of the four, he looked over his dark glasses at them. His eyes were ice blue. Chloe barely contained the shiver seeing them caused. “I must tell you,” Mr. Fox continued. “This house has,”—he thought for a moment—“let’s say, a history.”