It's the strangest thing. In all my life, I've never thought about other people. I know that sounds selfish, but it's the truth. In fact, it's partly because of this that I only have Emma as a friend. Ever since I was a little girl, I've always kept to myself. Lonely, weird, mean... Those were the adjectives that qualified me. For no reason at all, or at least not that I can remember. Yet I never felt alone. To my great surprise, my former comrades forgot this aspect of me, and in the end, ignored me completely. At least, until Emma came into my life. But even stranger was my willingness to talk to someone I'd met the day before. Jessy, on the other hand, is a real mystery. It's true that he has a lot of nerve, talking to a stranger without a care in the world. What's more, he announced himself to me with such fluidity, as if it were nothing.

The street is bright as I wait for the bus. There are no clouds in sight, so we can see the clear sky above the seasonally orange trees. But it's cooler now. I should have brought my jacket. Never mind, anyway, I can see the bus pull up in front of me to let me in. The warm air of the bus is pleasant. But there are no more seats. Apparently, we've all decided to take the bus at the same time. I thought I wouldn't run into anyone so early in the morning, but I was wrong. The journey wasn't very long - half an hour, more or less. Few people use the streets in this neighborhood. A sort of resentment at the loneliness of these roads. Since time immemorial, only the people who lived here have walked the streets. Tiny houses feeling the space. 

Despite the fact that it's deserted, the streets are full of flowers and strangely beautiful. The trees are so tall, you'd think it was a giant sequoia forest. But they don't look frightening, rather protective. A perfect shield for all the inhabitants of this neighborhood. Some of the children play in the small park: they run, swing, play in the sand or slide down the slide. An elderly couple sitting on a bench reminisce about old times, hands embracing, smiles on their lips and, above all, stars in their eyes. I enter the neighborhood, amazed by this unexpected perfection.

I never paid any attention the other times I was here. It's like discovering a place I know by heart.

A small house stands apart from the others. The white gate is damaged, as are the fences. A lick of paint would be welcome. Moreover, the garden is not very well maintained; the grass spreads in all directions, the bushes are not trimmed, but above all, ivy wraps around the weathered walls. These tall stems suffocate the house, making it seem more natural. The windows themselves are as clean as a new penny though. But I don't blame Emma's parents, they're very busy with their work. It can't be easy every day, but their house is nice all the same. 

I enter it without knoking. They're use to it by now. I am they're third child. A part of the family that come visit from time to time. I like Emma and Charles' parents. Always welcoming me whenever i want or need. 

"Charles, is that you honey ? Did you forget something ?" A distant feminin voice asked from the kitchen. It is their mother, Juliet.

"Oh it's you, come in. Emma must still be sleeping." She said.

"I know, we have an assigment to do for next week." 

Juliet nods and go back to the kitchen. 

"I'll be heading to work soon anyway, so tell her to do her laundry." She finally said.  

Right after I went to Emma's room filled with orange and blue flower, Her name on a card hang in the middle of the door.

Inside is pitch dark. Her blinds are closed as she is snoring. 

"Get up, lazy girl ! We have work to do." I scream jumping on her.  

"No mom, five more mimnutes." She groans when she tries to roll to the side. 

I laugh as I open her curtains and blinds. The brutal light made her hiss, hiding under her. After five long minutes, she finally sits up, dark circles under her eyes. 

"Well it seems you had a good night yesterday." I joke. 

"Tell me about it, i'm sure Jason likes me too." She says proudly. "What about you ? You totally disappeared last night." Emma asks curious. 

"Nothing much, I escape the party as much as possible, and I did pretty good." 

She watches me, bored ans jump out of bed. 

"Can you bring me some tea please, the usual." 

I nod as she walk to her wardrobe.

-ಬ-

Her hot tea finally in hand, smelling its scent. She smiles warmly. Emma get out two big sheets of paper and give one to me. It's to write our family. She starts to work on her tree and mark down herself beside the name of Charles and under Juliet and Albert. Her parents. Me i write my name and Ethan's one but i am stuck. Emma realise it.

"What's wrong ?"

"Well, I don't know who my real parents are." I responded, a lump in my throat. 

A look of pity lived in his eyes. I don't want to see it, so I turn my head.

"Maybe you could put Francis's name on it, don't forget he's the one who raised you," Emma tried to reassure me. 

Her advice is nice, but bioligically talking, it is not right. 

Suddenly, Emma jerks up and jump out of her chair. 

"I have an idea, what if you do a DNA test. Like that you would be able to find out about your past." A smiled invited itself on her lips. 

Actually it was not a bad idea. 

"Yeah ! But how ?" I asked unsure. 

She thinksk for a moment before saying. 

"Well there is a clinic not far from here, we could go there and figure it out." 

We look at each other, happy to find a solution to my problem. 

Ten minutes later, we were in the street right on front of the blue clinic. I breathe to release the stress that had built up during our journey, Emma taking my already shaking hand. 

"Itt's going to be alright." Her smile reconfort me again. 

My courage build up, i push the door to be welcome by a desk with a woman writting something on her computer. 

"Hello, we would like to do a DNA test please." 

She looked up to stare at us, then offered a genuine smile. 

"It will be ninety dollars." 

NINETY freaky DOLLARS ! I don't have that kind of money on me. I reach into my pockets and find only thirty dollars, which I've been saving for later. Emma copied me and found forty five dollars, which she gave to me.

"We only have seventy five dollars on us." I said, looking down.

The woman sititng at her desk glared at us, a glimpse of pity in her eyes. 

"I am sorry but if you don't have the right amount of money, you will not have that test." She said she was sorry, but her tone was not apologetic. 

When we were about to go out, an old woman that heard what happened asked. 

"Why do you need that test darlings ?"

"Well, it's complicated. I just want to know about my past." I answered.

"Can't you ask your parents dear ?" She asks.

I look at her, sorrow on my face.

"No I can't." 
The old lady approched us, searching something in her purse. Sudenly she took out a hundred dollar bill.

"No ma'am, i can't accept this, this is too much." 

In the second, the lady approched the lady sitting at her desk and gave it to her.

"This is for the young lady." She affirmed pointing at us. 

"Alright, ladies, follow me." 

-ಬ-

The day start to fade into night. This is the perfect time to take some picture at the park.

The sky offers me a unique mix of colors, being originally blue, orange and pink blend in perfectly. It creates a perfect harmony above my head. Some birds are still singing, despite the winter chill gradually setting in. I arm myself with my camera and take a picture of one of the birds' nests. A mother feeding her chick. A little further on, a grizzled couple hold hands on a secluded bench. They're probably thinking back to their lost youth, watching and loving each other. The moon is already present, rising proudly in front of me, as round as a coin. I take another photo of the fountain, which I know by heart because I sit there practically every day to take photos. But it's true that I've never captured it. I'm looking through my viewfinder for something else to immortalize when I come across someone I know. Slightly frizzy brown hair, dark blue eyes and his silver chain, which I'd never seen before: Jessy was standing by the tree, staring at his phone. 

Startled by this unexptected meeting, I go automatically to him.

"It's good seeing you here." I annonced.

"Actually, i knew i would find you here." He said. 

How, i never told him about my hobby nor this place. I don't understand. Don't tell me he stalked me. A shiver go through my back. No I can't assume the worst, maybe he saw me one day and said nothing. Yes this must be it. 

"Hey, what do you say about going to my secret hideout." He proposed. 

"It starting to get late, i wouldn't want to get scolded or anything. But it's really tempting." I hesitated. 

"Come on, I want to give you something you would really like." 

I watch the time showed on my phone, 7:58 PM.

"Okay, but I have to be back home before nine." 

"Nice ! Follow me."

Jessy takes my hand and pulls me through the streets. I know them all as if I'd built them. We pass the pharmacy, the grocery store and the hair salon. However, Jessy took me down a path I didn't know.

"Where are we going Jessy ?" 

He doesn't respond but grins mischeviously. 

Then we stood in front of a tunnel. Reluctant at first, Jessy took me with him into the long, giant tube. The walls smelled of sewage, making me sick to my stomach. Jessy had to grab a flashlight to illuminate our passage for it was too dark. In the end, Jessy stopped dead in his tracks when we reached the end of the tunnel. There was some sort of wooden hut in the tree. From the outside, it looked abandoned, but when we were inside, a red armchair lay near the entrance, and a large wooden chest lay next to it. 

"Sit on the armchair." He proposed. 

Jessy opened the trunk and pulled out a grey package. 

"Do you trust me ?" Jessy asked suddenly. 

Hesitant, i nod. He makes a small opening in the package and holds it out to me so that I can open it properly. Inside was some white powder. Dumbfounded, i stare at him. 

"Is that coke ?" I stand up from his chair and throw the package at him. 

I can't believe him, how can he offers me drugs like its water ? 

"Don't you want to try just one time ?" He took out a card and pourred some of the powder on a silver platter. Jessy made perfect line of Coke and sniffed one. he sniffs hard with his nose and makes an unbearable noise. He removes the powder from his nose with his right hand.

He does it so easily, you'd think he'd been doing it all his life. He places a little of it in his hand and brings it closer to me. His other hand now gripping my waist, he pulls me closer to him, a tempting look in his eyes. I know I shouldn't, but it's as if an invisible force naturally draws me closer to his hand. A magnet on a refrigerator, the waves with the moon, his hand with my nose.

Jessy wipes the tip of my nose with his thumb.

"See, it was not that bad, was it ?"

I shake my head, now in another dimension. He cups my head with his hands and I feel like I can see clearly now. The blindfold lifted, I open my eyes for the first time. My heart's pounding in my chest, I wrap my arms around Jessy. He kisses the top of my forehead before pulling away. He offers me the tray, encouraging me to take a little more. This time I don't hesitate.

-ಬ-

One foot in front of the other, I make my way down the long corridor. I know this corridor, but where have I seen it? I can't remember. The candle on the table, the infinite red door. I'm in a nightmare. I grab the candle and repeat the movements I made earlier. The door is still open. But no one is there to stop me. 

I pull the red door towards me and enter the new room. Suddenly, a sadistic laugh rings out, followed by, "I warned you, but now it's too late." The almost infectious laughter sends a chill down my spine. 

I turn around trying to leave, but the door is now locked. The once red door had turned midnight blue. With no other choice, I continue on my way, inspecting the new room. Unfortunately, I find to my horror that it's just another endless, barren corridor. The only difference being the color of the doors. They were now blue. The walls were moldy, almost crumbling. 

I'm moving forward in this unbearable darkness, and if it hadn't been for the candle, I don't know what I'd have done. At one point, I came across a man with his back to me. His silhouette was familiar. The man turned around, it was Pop. Terrified, I ran the other way, but Pop was still ahead of me. How could this be? The only solution was to open one of the doors. I rushed towards the first one to open it, but to no avail. It's as if it's locked.

I try other doors, but still no result. When I reached the fifth door, it opened, but Pop grabbed me by the shoulder. "I've got you now."

Luckily for me, I wake up, drenched in sweat, in my bed at home. As a precaution, I lock my door. You never know what might happen.

-TO BE CONTINUED-