Chapter 2 Harden

Chapter Two

Harden.

When the Truck made the abrupt stop in front of the large cabin like a wooden glasshouse, I wondered, 'for how long?'. I hated moving and Ester knew that. But after leaving New Orleans, I couldn't care less how many more times we moved and from or to where. At the front, I could hear Charlie and Ester's festive chatters as they snapped their estate car door shut behind them.

Sighing deeply, I stepped out of the truck, Rodger who's behind the wheel only stopping me for a while to ask "you alright, Harden?"

I nodded, wanting to just get this over with. Rodger goes out the car too, going behind to offload our bags. I stood still, watching the oak house seated in front of us. For what it's worth, it's welcoming. When Charlie had told us nights ago that we'd be moving to Fox, I'd abruptly said no. He'd said that this was nature's call. Only now do I see that he may be right. The house is backed into tall forest trees, surrounded with much greener grasses safe for the lawn's driveway.

Listening, I could hear the waterfall from far into the woods, behind the house, and the sonorous chirping of birds. It's become so easy to distinguish between the cries of the different species of birds. The place seems isolated and surrounded with trees but I could hear the very tender heartbeats of people far away, towards the open street, their walking steps, their low voices. I found myself smiling now. Nature did call this time.

Annette falls beside me on the truck side, her arms folded across her chest.

"I like that smile, Harden," she said, looking up to the house too "I like to think you like it here already"

"Yeah," I nodded "wasn't what I was expecting" I returned the smile on her lips.

Annette was my oldest brother's, Wayne's wife. They've been married for a couple of years and Annette hasn't only proven to be a part of this family but has proven to be the sister we all never had.

"Listen, Harden," she said "don't think about it, okay? Everything will be alright"

Just then, Wayne walked up to us, a travel bag on his one hand. He flings it over his shoulder before reaching for Annette and throwing me a smirk.

"Get your stuff, Harden. It's too early to be whimpering around" he said. Annette hits him playfully on the chest and he laughed before walking them up the doorsteps.

"Hey, Harden! Catch!"I turned superspeed just in time to catch the bag Seth threw my way from the back. Seth was my other brother, the youngest among us all. He jumps off the truck and walks over to me, dumping another bag before my feet.

"I think this place's gonna be fun, Harden, "He said, licking his lips. Seth was always the energetic one, always full of the spirits. "There's this club out of town. Every Friday! Lots of human girls go there. Every Friday night, Hardin"

Shaking my head at him, I picked up the bag and replied "quote that 'human girls' Seth. And you better keep it down in your pants" and turned towards the house.

"Keep what in my pants?"He asks arms spread wide in confusion.

"Your dick, asshole!"Rodger yelled at him from the door as I approached him. He erupted in a fit of laughter, slapping his hand against my back to back him up.

Our parents, Charlie and Ester who are now standing at a corner in the porch are now pointing to something on the porch roof to Wayne and Annette, who watched in awe. This is all so wrong. When Ester turned and her eyes caught mine, I looked away, Seth blocking her view of me as he passed us and pushed the door open.

Truth remains that I'll never get used to this, any of this. And she knew that.

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I was getting really really irritated by the place, hating every bit of it as I walked along the night local streets. The sounds, the voices, the people. They all seem so happy, walking around, not giving care to the dancers of the nights. What had I expected?

To many people, meeting new faces, getting to know new people was exciting but to me, it was a phobia I'd never leave behind. The town was dark but the sight of it was beautiful, from the bright street lights standing along the terraces to the flashing neon, argon, and freon lights flashing from the dashboards and banners hanging off the building fronts.

I continued to walk slowly along the sidewalk, head buried down under my black hood. I take a slow turn as I got to the end of the blocks of shops, and taking the short brick town's bridge towards the other side of the open space where more darker corners and alleys were in view. I must admit the city was captivating and there was just something spectacular about the people here. Something about how they did their things without even minding any trespasser, without giving a care. Secretly, I admired the place as I continued to walk off the bridge and along the sidewalks, barely glancing up.

Growing up, I'd had the opportunities of learning many vampire abilities. Why? My family moved from places to places, all around the continent. Of course, no vampire's senses are always complete. We keep learning and asides the natural abilities a vampire is birthed or made with, we have the abilities to acquire more as we move around. That's just Vampires.

Stepping off the bridge, my hands tucked into my hoodie pockets, I started along a pavement of shops, glancing at the fountain seated and springing water in the middle of the square, I watched the people, mostly young parents seated on the white spiral chairs just before the fountain.

The place reminded me of New Orleans. A lot of things happened in New Orleans, things I've enjoyed over the years of staying there, things I've kept close to my heart. And now, the sight of this magnificent village was one to behold and savor. The people dressed so elegantly, walking and talking festively around the place, the bright porch lights giving the place a bright and dim touch, the fountain, the stalls running just fine regardless of the late-night hour, the slow music playing from a close-by music room, the lovers enjoying the perfect view of the faraway fields from the park. All of these I saw in a blink.

I fought to shut out every conversation the people around were having. I needed to get out of myself tonight, feel free, feel impossible. The slow and fast beating of the hearts surrounding me wasn't helping. It was too loud. Everyone seems so happy.

I take a turn towards a corner, falling in line towards a block of shops. This side of the square is a lot quieter. Just then, my mind zoomed in on the conversation transpiring between a group of teenagers far away at the other side of the sidewalk.

"Stop that, Patrick!" A feminine voice protests and I'm forced to look up, just to see the owner of that voice.