*Sigh.....* 

The streets were empty as the sky was dull, reflecting on how I felt at the moment. The sound of my sneakers was lightly shuffling the sideway as I pushed forward with lost hope. My feet slowly stop as I made it to my final destination... My new home. With a shiver, I pulled my dark blue hood on tighter as I slowly pushed open the black rusted gate. I bit back a silent whine, the gate creaking open. I walked through the gate and closed it behind me. Closing my eyes, I thought for a moment about how I got here. Foster care was tired of caring for me and I had no families that seem to like my personality. They turned away from me as they saw my scarred left eye, thinking I was nothing but troubled. 'Perhaps they were right...' I grunted, foster care bumped me here because I'm old enough to live on my own. Here... I opened my eyes to see a run-down house. Big in size and old and fragile. I smiled a bit, no one wants this house like no one wants me. I walked up to it, my new home.

I started my way up the stairs to the front porch, admiring the dying grass and looks of once a front garden. 'I'll fix that.' I slowly took out the key to the house, the dark red door peeling with the once vibrant red paint. "Old and forgotten huh?" I lightly touched the door and slid my hand down, having different ideas to fix the place up. It was going to be my friend, it'll take care of me as I'll take care of it. I looked down to the lock and pushed in the key. I had to jiggle it a few times to get it in and turn to unlock. 

Once I finally opened it, I was greeted by a blast of cold, yet no ac seems to be running. The house was dark and dusty, furniture covered in dirty grey cloth occupied the space. with another glace behind me, I was saying goodbye to my old life and turning to welcome my new one. I walked in with caution. There was an eerie feeling of something here. My ears perked in alert and I stepped farther inside. I went to turn around to close the door, *SLAM!* The wind must have beat me to it. I still jumped and ran slightly forward at the surprising sound. My tail fizzed up like a cat scared for its nine lives. Staring at the door I begin to whine at the back of my throat. The darkness engulfed me, as silence burned my ears. I flinch as I walked to the door, scared it would slam open, wanting me to leave. Shaky hands touch the wall to find some sort of switch. 

When my hands touch something similar, my fingers pushed up, turning on a dull light above me. I looked out in the dark. "Great..." I started to gather up the courage and explored the rest of the house. It seemed more abandoned than anything. It was still impressive nonetheless. Who would want to live in this house? It had so much room. A kitchen, two bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, a living room, but my favorite was the library. "I feel like a kinda struck gold." The house was like coal and rocks. You don't see it's worth on the outside, but if you take your time and get to explore more on it, learn more about it, you'll see the true treasure on the inside.

After I explored I decided it was time to make it official my place. To do that I had to start with- *BUMP* I look up. "OK," I said out loud to no one. With a sigh I looked down, 'Just an animal probably...' I started to make my way upstairs and to the source of the noise. The attic. I freaking hate attics, They shouldn't exist in my opinion. I pulled slightly on the rope that connected to the ceiling door. "Look just don't jump out on me, please? You can stay, as long as you don't hurt me." I joked to calm my nerves. 

I pulled more until the ladder slams down in front of me, making me fall back. "Good Morning!" I shout at the excited ladder. "It's good to see you too!" I stood and lightly touched the dusty wood. "Poor thing, you must have been waiting to be used in years..." I soothed it before I gripped the handles, "Now if you excuse me, I have some business to attend to up here..." I stopped, "I'm going crazy talking to a ladder!" 

I continue slowly up, "Mr or Miss furry friend, I want to make sure we're on the same page of living in harmony. This house is pretty big..." Looked all around seeing nothing in sight. I even moved some things to get a reaction but nothing. "Dust bunnies, please keep the noise down from now on, you have guests that live here now." I grinned, knowing I might actually be crazy. It quickly vanished as I heard more noise downstairs.

"I just want a peaceful life..." I whined as I climbed down and closed the attic. I walked downstairs with caution. The sounds were loud as I walked closer to the library. When I touched the door, the sounds abruptly stopped. "If there's a killer or a homeless person in my house..." I mumbled, determined that I kick whoever was here out. 

I slowly opened the door, my back firmly pressed against the wall of the door, a form of protection just in case. When I got a good look, the space was empty. Except for the pile of books on the ground. I glanced around to find their home. "Kinda rude and disrespectful to leave these items here like that." I grumpily said to no one in particular. I walked over to the pile, "Where is your home... oh." I looked up to see a huge hole where they must have fallen from. "Amazing...  You guys must be shelf conscious..." I chuckled at my own bad joke, as I started to pick them up. "I don't see a ladder, so you guys can chill out here for now." I placed them on a desk that you would see at many desk jobs.

I turned to walk out, thinking I was truly losing it and needed to get some shut-eye. I traveled up the stairs and to my new room. There were little boxes here and there as I didn't have much from the orphanage in the first place. "Rude people, but I got a place to sleep, and spend the rest of my days. Maybe I'll die alone here... I'll get a dog before that. Then we can go out together! Wait that sounds bad too..." 

As I talked to myself, focusing on putting my items away, I heard some growls here and there but took that as the old house was settling. "I'll name him Fluffy, and he'll be the fluffiest dog!" I cheered as I pulled out clothes for pajamas. I wanted to take a shower before laying down to help with my nerves. "Hopefully the hot water works." I sighed as I walked into the bathroom, no wait, a spa! The master bathroom was huge! It had a big tub for like 5 mes' if I could clone myself. Next to it was a glass-standing shower... "Bath it is! But I need to clean it first." I cleaned it with some chemicals I found under the sink and hot water. After that, I pulled out my mp3 to play some songs. "R&B would be nice..." I started my playlist as I got undressed and settled in the tub.

I heard some bumps here and there but turned up my music, not wanting to play hide and seek with Casper. 'If Casper lives here, there's gonna be rules... I better not owe him some rent either.' I started to relax fully as the sounds finally gave in. My ears relax down and my tail lightly swished in the water. The bubble bath was nice and hot to my liking. So nice that.... so nice...

So...

Ni....

......

...

..

.

 *Step-Step* *Clatter* *Step-Step* *Growl* *Step-Step* *GGGGGGRRRRUFF!!!*

I jumped up from the tub, water splashing here and there. "Was that a dog?" My panting became even as I focused. 'Thank goodness it woke me up, could have drowned!' I sighed out, making sure I was clean before getting out, careful about the water on the floor. After I cleaned the mess and changed into my pajamas, I settled into bed. 

"Wait!" I abruptly sat up, pushing my rust-colored hair back. "I need some water, I'm dehydrated now!" I purposely scold myself as I knew I need to take better care of myself. 'If I don't live for myself, at least live for him.' I sat up and started to the door. I opened it and looked down the dark hallway. "I should probably bring a cup up with me. Too dark." 

I turned on the hallway light but quickly turned it off. 'Did I just...?' I turned it back on again, seeing nothing. "Huh? Thought I saw some kind of animal... I live in peace! And I speak for the trees! For the trees have no tongues. And I'm asking you, sir, at the top of my lungs. Oh, please do not scare me for fun." I yelled as I walked downstairs. 

I reached the kitchen and headed over to the refrigerator. "I love refrigerators, they're so useful in many situations. Keeping food cold, drinks cold, and hiding dead bodies..." I stopped and looked around, "Don't get any ideas..." I opened the fridge to see the water bottle I placed in there earlier. "Ah, there you are, nice and cold for me. So refreshing!" I sipped some as I closed the fridge and walked back to the stairs. I heard some shuffling behind me, "I said not to get any funny ideas..." There was a sound between a bark and a growl as I got halfway up the steps. My attention turned to the animal-like sound, but I froze when I saw it. I thought it was all in my head but...

"What are you?"