The Move

As I stepped out of the moving truck, the scorching sun beat down on me, making my already sour mood even worse. My mom, Lucy, was beaming with excitement as she took in our new surroundings. We had just moved to a small coastal town in California, and I was less than thrilled about leaving behind everything I knew and loved. The sun-kissed beaches, the smell of saltwater, and the sound of seagulls crying overhead were all new and unfamiliar, a far cry from the bustling city life I was used to. The house we were moving into was an old Victorian, with a creaky porch and a faded paint job. It looked like it had seen better days, but Mom seemed to think it was perfect. I trudged behind her, my eyes scanning the overgrown yard and the peeling paint. This was going to be my new home? I couldn't help but feel a pang of resentment towards my mom. Why did we have to move here? Why did she have to take me away from my friends, my school, and everything I loved? As we began to unpack, I couldn't help but feel like I was losing my sense of identity. I was Samantha "Sam" Emerson, the girl who loved punk rock music and hanging out at the mall with my friends. Now, I was just a stranger in a new town, with no friends and no life. I wandered around the empty rooms, feeling like a ghost haunting my own life. Mom tried to reassure me, putting a hand on my shoulder as we stood in the middle of the living room. "It'll be okay, sweetie. We'll make new friends, and you'll love it here. It's a great opportunity for us to start fresh." But I wasn't convinced. I felt like I was being ripped away from everything that made me who I was. As we finished unpacking, I flopped down on the couch, feeling defeated. Mom sat down beside me, putting an arm around my shoulders. "Hey, kiddo, I know it's tough, but we'll get through this together. And who knows, maybe we'll find some new adventures here." She smiled, trying to sound optimistic, but I just rolled my eyes. The sun was setting over the ocean, casting a golden glow over the room. I got up and walked to the window, staring out at the sea. I felt a sense of restlessness, a feeling that I was meant for something more. Little did I know, my life was about to take a dramatic turn, one that would change me forever. As I stood there, lost in thought, I noticed a flyer on the fridge. "Welcome to Santa Carla," it read. "Come for the beaches, stay for the blood." I shivered, feeling a chill run down my spine. What kind of town was this, where a flyer could make you feel like you were in for a world of trouble? I had a feeling that I was going to find out.