As the morning sun shimmered across her face through the bedroom window, countless thoughts crowded Crystal's mind—Will I fit in? Will I make friends? Will I survive this?
The wind brushed gently against her skin, and for a moment, she felt safe, like nothing else mattered. She listened to the leaves skitter across the ground and the trees sway in rhythm.
Then—
"Crystal, hurry up! The car's about to leave, and breakfast is ready."
Her mother, Jenna, had ruined the moment. Crystal rolled her eyes and sighed.
She grabbed her suitcases and headed downstairs, finding her little brother Alex at the dining table, drinking cereal straight from the bowl, while Jenna moved around the kitchen. Crystal was about to sit when her mother stopped her.
"What do you think you're wearing?" Jenna asked.
"Mom, it's called slaying and being fashionable," Crystal replied.
"Ripped jeans and a top that practically shows everything is fashionable?" Jenna shot back. "Go change. Now."
Crystal stormed back to her room and grabbed the hoodie lying on her bed. She threw it on, went downstairs, and walked straight out of the house, ignoring Jenna calling after her.
She grabbed her bicycle and rode to her boyfriend Steve's house. She knocked on the door, waiting—but no answer. She called his phone and heard it ringing from inside. He was home.
"Steve! Steve!" she shouted, banging harder on the door. Still nothing.
Annoyed, she walked around to the back of the house and noticed the door was slightly open. She stepped inside and immediately spotted his phone on the couch. Her stomach tightened. She headed toward his room.
The moment she opened the door, she froze.
Steve was in bed—with another girl.
"Steve!" she screamed.
He jumped out of bed. "Chris—Chris—it's not what it looks like! I don't even know her!"
Crystal stormed out of the house, Steve chasing after her.
"Babe, please! You have to understand!"
She stopped abruptly and turned to face him. "Understand what exactly?" she snapped. "You hooking up with a stranger the day I'm leaving?"
He hesitated. "I was just sad you were leaving. I went out with some friends, we got drunk—I don't even remember what happened."
She stepped closer, lowering her voice. "Really?"
Then her tone shifted, sharp and furious. "Then in that case—forget you."
She grabbed her bike and rode away, not looking back.
When she got home, still furious, Jenna scoffed. "Wow. Look who finally decided to show up."
Crystal climbed into the car without a word. Alex and Jenna followed, and soon the journey began.
A few minutes later, they arrived at the airport, ready to board their flight to Georgia.
Hours later, they landed in a small town called Sunnyside, Georgia, and took a cab to their new house. Crystal stepped out, grabbed her bags, and looked up—completely stunned by the view.
"You love it, don't you?" Jenna asked.
Crystal cleared her throat. "Yeah… it's alright."
Jenna opened the front door, and they all stared in awe.
"Woah," Alex whispered.
"Okay," Jenna said. "Chris, your room is the second door on the left. Alex, yours is the first. Go freshen up—we'll meet back for dinner."
Crystal entered her room and immediately noticed the Billie Eilish, Benson Boone, and MGK posters neatly arranged on the walls. Her wardrobe was already full, the lights glowed softly, and the view from her window was breathtaking.
She stepped closer and stood there quietly, taking it all in.
"New town. New adventure. New friends," she murmured. "What could possibly go wrong?"
Later that evening, Jenna called them down for dinner. She had prepared a beautiful chicken meal to celebrate their fresh start. Halfway through, Crystal stood up.
"I'll help clean up," she said, trying to make peace.
"Well," Jenna replied, "you can start by taking out the trash."
"Wow," Crystal muttered, grabbing the bag. "First day and we've already filled it."
Outside, as she walked toward the trash bin, she thought she heard something—a soft scuff behind her. She froze.
The sound came again, closer this time, like someone dragging their feet across the gravel. Her heart thumped in her chest.
"Is anyone there?" she called, trying to sound brave. "Come out now before I do something you won't like."
A shadow shifted in the corner of her vision. Before she could react, a hand shot out from behind and grabbed her shoulder, cold and firm.
Panic surged through her. She swung the trash bag with all her strength. It connected with a sickening thud.
The figure stumbled backward, hitting the ground hard.
Crystal's chest heaved. Her ears rang from the sudden quiet. For a moment, she thought it was over—then a faint, slow groan echoed from the shadows, and the figure stirred.
Her mind raced. Who is this? Why are they here?
She backed up slowly, clutching the bag like a weapon, her eyes darting around the dimly lit yard. Every rustle of leaves made her jump. Something about this felt… wrong. Very wrong.
The night was alive with whispers of movement, and Crystal realized she was not alone—and maybe, just maybe, she had stumbled into something she wasn't ready for.