Haunted - Chapter 1

Instructions

Haunted Aldrik had lived his whole life in Wisteria, a town so picturesque it felt like a painting. Houses lined the narrow stone streets, the rhythm of mills and farms kept the community thriving. Even the old schoolhouse he'd attended was still packed with the shouting of children. He was halfway to his neighbors farm, enjoying the rare spring warmth of the sun when a familiar rasp cut through the pleasant air. "Oi! Aldrik Windsrow! Come o'er 'ere, you young'n!" It was his grandmother. Her voice rang out across the street, causing the few passersby to turn and smirk. "Yes, grandma?" Aldrik muttered, turning towards her. *Geez, what does she need now?* He'd mentally rolled his eyes, but his fathers last words echoed through his head. 'Be kind to your grandmother. She's not as young as she used to be.' Granny snapped him out of his thoughts with a sharp gesture towards the stone well. "Fetch some water and water my plants!" "Okay, grandma." Aldrik groaned. He suppressed a heavy sigh, his shoulder slumping as he dragged his feet toward the wooden bucket. Before the old woman had called him over, he had actually been enjoying his day. But now, his plans are ruined. *Guess it's no use asking Ana if her family wants to come over for the Sunrise Moon tonight.* He thinks, suddenly disappointed. Just then, the millers daughter, Gerdut, waltzed up to him. "Whatcha doin' tonight?" She asked, bouncing on her heels. Aldrik had greeted her with a warm smile. She had been his best friend since diapers. “Nothing really, Grandma’s making me do chores.” He complained. *I wanted to ask Ana over..* He thought to himself, contemplating on telling Gerdrut. After Aldrik had gotten the bucket of water, he carried it to his grandmother’s, careful not to spill a drop. He’d worked his way through her house, stopping to water each plant. When he finished, she smiled. A smile. A real, genuine, smile from his grandmother. He was surprised; she had never smiled at him before. Not in his 15 years of life, and he’d used to think never in his father's childhood either. *Is she..? This is new* He thought, bewildered. “Aw, thank you young’n!” Grandma grins. “Go on and be with your friends now, that’s enough work for a Sunrise Moon.” Aldrik grinned back. Suddenly, he was grateful and guilty he had called his grandmother rude names. He raced past Gerdrut, heading straight for Ana’s cottage. He was about to knock on her front door when the door swung open. Ana’s little brother, Henry Finnagen, greeted him with an excited look. “Are you here for Ana?” Henry chirped. Aldrik smiles in response, stepping inside when Henry steps aside. *Where’s Ana?* Aldrik wondered, glancing around what looked like an empty cottage. “Where is everyone?” Aldrik asked, kneeling down to Henry’s level. “They’re out at the market, but Ana hasn’t been home since last night.” Henry replied. *Ana’s gone? That’s not normal..is it?* Aldrik’s thoughts were racing through his brain. Every possibility was bouncing around. *The legend is that some teenagers are taken the night before the Sunrise Moon, but.. that can’t be true, can it? No one’s gone missing from our town for years. Maybe she’s just at her grandmother’s in Aidlebrook.* “Aldrik?” Gerdrut called from behind him, a few feet away from the Finnagen's porch. “Are you okay?” Gerdrut's voice snapped through Aldrik’s thoughts. “Yeah, Gerdrut I’m okay. I’ve got to tell you something. Treehouse?” He said, turning around and stepping out of Henry and Ana’s house. Gerdrut's voice snapped through Aldrik’s thoughts. “Yeah, Gerdrut I’m okay. I’ve got to tell you something. Treehouse?” He said, turning around and stepping out of Henry and Ana’s house. Gerdrut's voice snapped through Aldrik’s thoughts. “Yeah, Gerdrut I’m okay. I’ve got to tell you something. Treehouse?” He said, turning around and stepping out of Henry and Ana’s house. Gerdrut nods. ~TO BE CONTINUED~