And I'm thinking,
Damn, if these walls could talk
- Walls Could Talk; Halsey

Waking up on the couch had proven to be a struggle.

The couch had been stiff, but I was getting used to it. Slowly, but surely.

Today was the first day of my junior year.

My first day at Ravenwood High.

I was highly aware, it was an odd school, but still, I wanted to make a good impression.
I didn't want to be that girl who lived with her grandmother in the haunted house.

Tying my wavy hair into a ponytail, I glanced at my reflection in the mirror. I had planned my outfit, flawlessly. I wore dark jeans with
all-black Converse and a plain white t-shirt.

As I turned around to look at my reflection from behind, a cool breeze flew through the room causing my shirt to rise over my belly button. I gasped as I felt the pads of fingertips on my abdomen. I immediately pulled down the shirt and out of pure fear, I felt the pace of my breathing increase.

"Leave me alone, whatever you are," I whispered silently before grabbing my backpack, and slamming the door behind me.

* * *

"Lilith, tell us about yourself." My new literature teacher tried his best to make me feel welcome but only failed.

Immensely.

"There's not much to tell.." I forced my laugher while many students stared at me.

All had mixed expressions of confusion, amusement, intimidation, and let's not forget about disinterest.

"There's always something! Everyone has a story! Why don't you tell us about your move?" Our teacher, Mr. Leon, grinned at me as he leaned against his long desk.

I stared at his grinning face before turning to see all of my giggling classmates, who were trying so hard to stifle their laughter.

"Well, I-I moved from Montana. My mother is an entrepreneur and she was called to travel to Peru on business. So, I moved in with my Grandma Violet." I intertwined my hands behind my back and swayed back and forth on the balls of my feet, awkwardly.

A hand shot up from the back of the class and Mr. Leon looked more than delighted as he called on this person.

"I have a question for Lilith, Mr. Leon." This person spoke dryly and Mr. Leon grinned again.

"Wonderful, go right ahead, Belinda!"

What an odd name.

The girl stood up, next to her desk. She was tall with her black hair and green eyes. She had fishnet gloves on her fingers and some type of emo band T-shirt on. Dressed in all black, with an over excessive amount of black eyeliner, this girl was interesting looking.

"Is it true, you live in a haunted house?"

Once she said those words, it was like time stopped. My mind was blank and the reason why I was here was unknown. The fear and trauma seeped into my brain and soul. I was paralyzed, possessed.

"Ms. Martin? Ms. Martin, she asked you a question." Mr. Leon tapped my shoulder lightly and I blinked.

"That answers my question quite sufficiently, Mr. Leon. Thank you." Belinda sat down smugly and I stared down at my black shoes.

"Have a seat, Ms. Martin. Do you need a hall pass to use the restroom? Will you be alright?" Mr. Leon asked, showing genuine concern.

"I'll be fine, thank you." I smiled warily and picked a desk to sit at.

There were only two desks that were empty.

One, behind a boy with dark hair and the other, beside Belinda. I didn't feel comfortable around Belinda, so I figured it would be better to sit behind a total stranger than next to a sociopath.

I made my way to the vacant desk behind the boy and his whispers were heard as I passed by. Their gossip was so loud and obnoxious that I could hear every word for word once I took my seat behind him.

"She's fit, man," Said his friend.

"Seriously? She's a freak." The boy scoffed loudly. I clenched my fists, feeling my face heat up in anger.

"You know what they say about freaks in
bed-"

"Please tell me you're not completely brainless." I interrupted their annoying banter before it could go any further.

"Excuse me?" The inappropriate boy snapped at me as he turned in his seat.

The boy in front of me observed the situation and my actions.

"If you weren't completely brainless, I would think, that you know I can hear every single word you're saying to douchebag, over here." I hissed underneath my breath.

"Well, crap, she's got a backbone." The boy in front of me chuckled.

"Watch your back, Martin." The inappropriate boy snapped harshly, before turning his attention back to the front.

"Do I need to separate you two again, Zach?" Mr. Leon asked the inappropriate boy, named Zach.

"It's not me, it's Ellis and his freak." He scoffed and everyone in the class giggled and whispered.

"Quiet! Let's turn our attention toward today's lesson. We will be studying some of Edgar Allen Poe's work. Turn with me, to page twenty-four, The Tell-Tale Heart." Mr. Leon began to write on the chalkboard as he instructed us.

I focused on turning the pages in my textbook, but the piercing gaze of Belinda burned through the back of my head. When I turned around to look at her briefly, she smiled before burying her head in a book that was not school related.

To say, I missed my old school, would be such an understatement.

* * *
I began to walk home, with the disturbing thoughts of homework filling my mind, when a girl latched onto my arm, with her red nails, and yanked me backward.

"Ouch!" I exclaimed, rubbing my arm.

I looked at the culprit, recognizing her face as one of the pretty popular girls at Raven High.

"Hey, you're Sinith, right?" The girl tossed her blonde locks over her shoulder as she batted her eyelashes.

"Sinith? Not even close. It's Lilith, but I prefer Lily. Only my grandmother calls me Lilith." I snorted and she looked at me with disgust.

With a shake of her head, she recovered with a happy grin on her face.

"I have a preposition for you." She smirked and I gave her a look.

"You mean proposition? Because a preposition is a noun or pronoun that -"

"I don't like you, Sinith." She snapped rudely.

"Well then, I don't like you either." I glared at her and she began to fake laugh.

I stared at her blankly. "What's so funny?"

"You're hilarious, Sinith!" She slapped my back playfully, but hard, and I stumbled slightly.

"Lilith," I muttered as she ignored me and recovered from her laughing spell.

"I am willing to overlook your attitude if you repay my kindness." She smirked at me.

"Kindness? What kindness? And who the hell are you?!" I almost yelled at her.
Other teenagers watched us curiously as they walked passed us.

Barbie was getting on my last nerve.
It was only a matter of time until I blew up and made a mess of her caked makeup.

"I'm Jessica, my kindness?- hello? I'm helping you not be a social outcast. I mean, moving in with my grandma and living in a haunted house doesn't exactly scream date me." Jessica flipped her hair over her shoulder again.

"Date me? I'm not even looking for a boyfriend." I raised an eyebrow at this mental girl.

"Exactly. You need to have a new perspective on things. And maybe a makeover too, but the point is-"

"What is the point?" I cut her off and cross my arms.

Jessica rolls her eyes. "I need a house for my Halloween party and your house is perfect for it."

"What?"

"It needs to be scary- haunting, even! If you don't accept my invitation slash preposition, then I will tell this entire school how much of a freak you really are. And how your grandmother is absolutely insane. In no time, news will spread. Rumors spread like wildfire in this small town." Jessica smirked almost evilly at me.

I felt my shoulders slump as she smirked victoriously.

I glared. "It's proposition. And fine, I'll see what I can do to get my grandma out of the house." I sighed and she clapped happily.

"I always knew you had potential behind that freakish look." She winked at me before sauntering away.

I shook my head shamefully.

My new life here wasn't going as smoothly as I had planned it to be.

Suddenly, I heard a rustle in the bushes that made me jump a foot into the air.

It was Belinda, she had her hands placed on her hips while she shook her head at me.

"You are going to regret this," Belinda said mysteriously before jogging away.

"What?" I stared at her retreating back, deciding that I wanted answers.

"Wait!" I ran after her, panting.

She kept running and while I tried to keep up with her, I heard her laugh.

"Why am I going to regret this?" I yelled, she turned around and began jogging backwards.

"Why are you so jumpy?" She smirked at me and I stopped running.

I stared at her seriously, my shoulders were moving up and down due to my heavy panting.

"You have your secrets and I have mine, good luck." She waved before she ran forward, straight into the woods.

A bit of a long chapter! I hope you guys liked it! More mysteries are about to unfold! I hope you're prepared for it... 😉😂
Thanks for reading guys!!

QOTC
Who do you think is the shadiest character in this story so far?

SOTC
Walls Could Talk - Halsey

V O T E
C O M M E N T
S H A R E
F O L L O W

I'd like to thank and give a special shoutout to RAINEyowww for making our amazing cover!! She has amazing graphic making skills. Please check out her work and shoot her a follow!

*edited*