Dedicated to
inky_galaxies

Jamie kept quiet for the next few days, only speaking when necessary. She had been trying to figure out what had happened that night. The world seemed to move around her, as her brain constantly puzzled over the shadowed figure's actions.
   She stayed this way for days, doing mindless tasks. The kitchen, dining room, and living room walls were painted, and they went to dozens of stores trying to find the best cheap television. The living room was set up with a fold-out couch, and a rocking chair. Jamie's mother and father cleaned out the basement, while Jamie decorated her room. She decided to keep the colour of the room, but brighten it up, and repaint. She stood for over an hour, rolling the paint roller over the walls, liking the popping noises it made as it rolled. When the painting was done, she moved the bed around to every possible location, until it was time for dinner that evening.
   Both of her parents were wiped by the end of most days, so they went out for pizza.
The tingling in the night had stopped, and Jamie hadn't seen Mr. Forkle for awhile.
On the thirteenth day since they had moved in, however, Jamie's world began to spin out of control.
"Work?" she asked incredulously, voice rising a whole octave from hysteria. "I thought that—"
"Jam-Jam. Calm down. Please. I got a call, that an employee—at the land survey job I've been looking into—dropped out. So I can take his place, if I qualify, and if I go to the job interview today. So, I'll call this evening, and tell you the plan!"
That all sounded great, until Jamie noticed the not-so-great detail in his words. Still she couldn't admit it to herself.
"Call this evening? Why not just tell us?" she tried to keep her face expectant, but with a rising dread, she admitted the truth to herself, before her father could tell her. He had to drive somewhere to the interview.
Then he would stay in a hotel. He had always driven home late to see them, until his friend died in a car crash late at night, driving home from a meeting. Now he stayed in hotels.
"The interview is in Sacramento city, the capital of California. That's also where the main building is. But there is a small branch of the company here in San Diego. And I promise, all of my work will be here, or in neighbouring towns." His sigh lasted a long time. "I love you both. Now, I gotta get ready. Thanks for breakfast, Abby."
He got up and put his bowl in the sink. He then continued to race up the stairs, and out of sight.
"Jam-Jam, I know your not going to like it," her mother said. Jamie wasn't sure how much more bad news she could take. "Some of my old high school friends live around here. I was hoping to go visit them today. I talked to our neighbour yesterday, and he seems like a nice man. Would you be okay to spend the day with him? I'll be back by two. Maybe just grab some sketch books, and pencils, and head over there. He seems welcoming."
   Hearing that she would spend a day with Mr. Forkle warmed her inside. It was still a mystery why she felt like he was familiar. She had asked her parents if they had ever met him. They both came up with straight nos. Their answer to why he knew her name was because there had been a post on the town's Facebook page about them moving in. Most of her questions were answered, except one. Why did she feel like she knew him?
   Maybe he had lived in their last neighbourhood? Perhaps just when she was a baby? And maybe she had seen him walking outside? She had zero leads.
"Fine," she said, trying to sound hesitant, even though she was more than happy to go to Mr. Forkle's. "I'll stay with the neighbour for a few hours until you come back, if I have to."
"Thank you for your cooperation, Jamie." Her mother sighed, sounding old and tired. "I'm gonna to go now, okay?"
"Sure." Jamie was distracted by what she saw out the window. "Mom, there's a—"
"What honey?"
"It's gone. There was a person in a hood. In the other neighbour's yard."
"Mr. Forkle's yard?"
"No, the other one. I don't know who's yard that is." Jamie stood up, and walked over to the window, peeking out, trying to glimpse the person again. There was no sign of them.
"Oh, the Mozales?"
Jamie nearly choked.
"The whats?"
"The Mozales," her mother said nonchalantly. "Nora, Vick, Coco, and George. A family of four. Nora is an insurance broker, and Vick a landscaper. He and you father had a heyday talking. Nora is lovely, and George, their four-year-old son, is precious. I didn't get to meet their daughter, but I'm sure she's a great teenager."
Jamie was at a loss for words.
Her mother's brow crinkled in thought. "I think Coco is around your age, isn't she." Again she seemed deep in thought. "You know, you don't sound all that keen to spend the day with Mr. Forkle. Maybe I can talk to Nora and see if you could hang out with Coco—"
   Jamie's mind reeled. "No, Mom. I-I think I should go to Mr. Forkle's place. I think Coco is a few years older than me, and I don't think I'd like to meet her." Jamie stumbled over her forced lies, making them come out in a messy burst of words.
"You sure?" Her mother asked persistently.
"Definitely."
"Okay."
Jamie put her bowl in the sink too, and went upstairs. Just as she entered her room, she felt the tingly feeling down her spine. It only lasted a minute, but it worried Jamie. She'd never felt the tingling in the daytime before. It felt even more ominous than any nights before.
Little did she know, something terrible was happening.

1020 words!

Sorry if this is a little rough. My editor is taking a little break, and only read over this once. I tried my best. Hope you liked it.
—Wawawa