The bed in which Emilia slept that night was absolute bliss. She had never felt anything like it before. Jason sure did spend out on quality mattresses for each room.

The room held the same rustic appeal to the rest of the house. The furniture was built entirely of mahagony oak and the moving team had attempted to lay out her personal items to look more homely.

Their clothes were still in suitcases inside the wardrobe and it pleased Emilia knowing they had not gone through her garments.

She had heard various bumps and taps throughout the night, but she was so comfortable where she lay she opted to ignore them, and put them down as the house settling.

Even Alice managed to stay quiet in her bed until eight before requesting breakfast. Emilia took her downstairs and poured cereal for her and sat her at the table.

She returned to the kitchen to make herself some tea. As the kettle boiled, Emilia stared out of the kitchen window and smiled. Everything was so green and fresh. Summer was definitely the right time to move there she thought.

A sudden knock on the worktop caught her attention. She looked around the room but saw nothing out of place. There followed a succession of taps, like someone rapping the counter.

"Who's there?" Emilia asked nervously.

No answer.

"Bloody creaky cabin," she muttered before taking her tea into the front room. She sat on the left sofa so she could get a view of the garden and the TV attached to the wall above the fireplace.

"A TV? Why didn't we notice that yesterday, Bee? It's huge."

"Can I watch YouTube?" Alice asked sweetly.

"Maybe soon. Let's get dressed and go for a walk. You can watch TV later while I unpack our clothes."

Alice grimaced, she liked to watch TV but she could be content with a walk first.

Emilia was pleased, she was eager to explore the forest and look for wildlife. She decided to go back upstairs and pull out appropriate clothing for them both. Jean shorts and white t-shirt for herself and jeans and a long waterproof jacket for Alice.

A couple of pairs of work boots, not built for hiking, but still suitable for walks on rough terrain, were also pulled out. Emilia got herself dressed and ventured back downstairs with Alice's clothes to get her dressed.

A creak sounded on the steps behind her as she descended. She froze and did not move for a second or two. The creak happened again and she turned to find nothing there. "Bloody cabin," she muttered.

Fifteen minutes later and they were stepping out of the front door, passed the car and beyond the first row of trees.

"We're going on an adventure," Alice said excitedly.

"Yes," Emilia agreed. "An adventure. Let's go, Bee."

They walked for several minutes with Emilia vaguely listening to the ramblings of a four year old as they passed several rock shapes and bent trees that the youngster made a game of naming.

A twig snapped in front of them and Emilia shushed her daughter, "Listen, Bee. That could be a deer."

"That would be lovely," Alice replied.

"You do say something funny things, Bee," Emilia laughed.

Alice looked at her awkwardly before replying, "Thank you, mummy."

Emilia peered through the layers of trees, hoping to spot something, anything, "I can't see anything, Bee. Let's keep walking."

"Are your glasses clean?" Alice asked in her serious tone.

Emilia chuckled, "Your dad would say that a lot. I wonder what else you've picked up from him?"

Alice not really understanding the rhetorical question replied, "I pick up his socks."

"Yes, and I pick up everything else," Emilia replied dryly. They continued to walk in silence for a while. Emilia thought it was fortunate there some semblance of a woodland path laid out for them. She knew her younger self would have preferred to leave the track and scramble through the thickets and brambles, explore the unknown.

"I'm tired, mummy," Alice said after a few more minutes.

"We'll turn back soon, darling. I think I hear water."

"Ok, mummy."

The sound of trickling water became more prominent and they soon discovered a running stream further along. They stood and watched the calming flow for a few minutes before deciding to turn back.

"Good morning, miss, and to your little one," a man in his fifties stood a few feet up the bank. He spoke with a strong northern accent. He smiled with tobacco stained teeth on show. He was thin with large dark eyes. He looked like somebody Emilia would usually like to avoid. He wore a rimmed hat and a black waistcoat over a white shirt.

Emilia gritted her teeth, she was not hoping to see anyone around in that part of the secluded forest. "Good morning, sir," she found the courage to say politely.

"A southerner, what brings you all the way up here, my child?"

"Home," Alice spoke up.

"Ah, friends," Emilia quickly rectified. "Our friend lives nearby. We've come for a visit and we have come for a little stroll."

"Oh, I see, and where may I ask does this friend live? A little far from Falstone for a little one to stroll," the man grinned at Alice who hid behind her mother.

"It's the other side of the woods, we like to walk a lot."

"Ah, so someone has finally moved into that cabin. After all that work that was being done to it."

Damn it, Emilia thought. "Yes, that's the one."

"Ah, I warned that man not to start a tenancy."

"Why not?" Emilia hoped the frustration sounded in her voice.

The man edged closer to them both. "Terrible deeds have come from that cabin. Monsters lurk in the walls and occupy the forest around it."

There was a whimper from Alice which angered Emilia, "Do you mind, you are scaring my child!"

"Forgive me, little one. I'm sure you're-" emphasing, "Friend, will make it a lovely home. Forget the ramblings of an old man."

"Let's go, Bee," Emilia said and she grabbed Alice's hand. "Good day, sir." She began leading Alice away.

"Don't let them in!" The older man called after them.

Let who in? Emilia questioned herself. Suddenly she felt the first real sign of discomfort from her choice to move to the north.

***