Chapter 1: The Unknown

A girl was walking down the hills in the dark night, unexplained sounds and voices were surrounded around her. She finally reached the haunted city that it's name was unknown. She looked at the entrance and it was filled with the scary face of pumpkins, witches's hats and skeletons tied up on the trees. She was kind of terrified that whether it's fake or someone just died on there. The entrance was enough to give the creeps on her, the gates were even closed, decorated with blood, masks and thorns. She was desperated to get inside but something was stopping her from doing so, she took a step forward when the gates opened by their own. She was about to go inside when someone called her name behind.

Amanda: Lily!!! Lily!!! Wake up!!!

Lily: Wait!!! I was about to get into the...

Amanda: Get into what?

Lily opened her eyes and found her mom Amanda staring at her with confusion, she looked around and realized it was a dream.

Amanda: What were you about to get into, huh?

Lily woke up from her bed and held her messy curly blonde hair, unable to recall what she just saw in her dream.

Amanda: Are you all right, Lily? You look a bit pale.

Lily: I'm alright, it just...I'm having this weird dream recently and....I have no idea what was it about....

Amanda: It's normal to have weird dreams, darling. I'm sure it will go away anytime soon. Now, get your body up for today and fresh yourself up.

Lily: Mom, the weekend just started now, what's with the rush?

Amanda: Whether it's weekdays or weekends, you have to get up early so you can develop yourself, young girl.

Lily: Ugh, I'm tired of this development thing.

Amanda: Say what you want, now get up quickly, your breakfast is ready and your sister had woke up earlier than you, you need to learn something from her.

Lily: Mom, it's not like I have to learn everything from her.

Amanda was tidying the room while Lily got up from the bed and yawned lightly.

Amanda: I know, but you need to have some lessons so you can be a better woman in the future, just like me trying hard to help this family survive without your father by my side.

Lily: I'm pretty sure dad wouldn't had tried as hard as you back in the days.

Amanda: Oh, you have no idea about that man, he just sat on the couch all day long while watching those stupid girls passed by, who were not as beautiful as me.

Lily: Oh....no wonder you gave him a hard time even before me and Sarah were born.

Amanda: I just had to give him what he deserved. Anyway, make it quick and I don't want you to sleep on that bed or else you are in so much trouble.

Lily: I won't, stop blackmailing me everyday for something that's unnecessary.

Amanda sighed at her daughter's blabbering before leaving her room, Lily stared at her mom with a messy face, annoyed to the fact that she had to listen to her mom's lecture every day and night, even when it's school holiday.

Lily was about to leave her room as well, when she saw her dad's old photo with her on his hands when she was a kid. She touched the old photo and smiled sadly, as she was reminded back in the old days when everything was going great by her dad on her side. He was everything to her, he would never give up on her no matter what, that's what she was believing that her father sacrificed his life just to save his family.

Lily: Your sacrifice for us will never be forbidden, dad. You will always be a part of my life....

Who would have thought that a pure love between a father and daughter would be selfless? That's how Lily and her father was, she still had no idea how her father's life was taken, she really wanted to find out but she had no time to think about it. She thought it might be useless hence she gave it up without any hesitation.

However, she had no idea the secret of her father's demise would send a horrible feedback to his family.

Half past nine, Amanda and her daughters, Lily and Sarah sat down on their table and having their breakfast as always. They were used to have a fun delightful breakfast when Lily's father was around, but now without her by their side, it's totally the opposite.

Sarah: Mom, you didn't tell me about the trip that we were supposed to go.

Amanda: Honey, I wished we could go, however it's a bit hard leaving these things behind, I hope you could understand your mom.

Sarah: Uhh...it sucks that we can't go, but I'm absolutely fine with it.

Lily: Mom, what about the garden which is a few blocks away from here? You promised to take us there to grow flowers.

Sarah: Yes mom, you told us like so many times that you want to go there.

Amanda: Oh my god, I totally forgot about it, maybe we can go there by evening, and don't forget your equipments I gave you, or you just have to sit there and watch me planting.

Lily: It's been a while since we had went to that garden, dad loved to have gardens as it's his passion and lifetime hobby.

Sarah: Yeah, he always showed me the flowers and described about how he loved seeing flowers grow when he was a kid.

Amanda: ( chuckles ) Your father won't ever give up on having gardens, he would stress himself out just to see his gardens bloom.

Amanda recalled on how her husband would be joyful if he witnessed his garden grew with different types of flowers and colours on it, he didn't even want to pluck even once as he imagined he would hurt his flowers.

Lily: So, why did he stop gardening after he showed his gardens to me and Sarah?

Amanda suddenly stopped having her meal when Lily popped up with that question, all that she could remember was her husband, Howard gave their daughters to her hands and asked her to get out from the place.

Don't worry about me, Amanda!!! Just don't let them harm our girls!!! It's dangerous if you stay here longer!!!

But Howard, I can't just leave you like this!!! Please come with us!!!

Please Amanda, just listen to me!!! This city is cursed!!! You need to get out of here with our girls now!!!

What really happened to Howard and his family at that time? How did he passed away? Stay in touch for the next chapter ahead.

To be continued.....