"Woah, it sure is dark in here," Sara said, her voice echoing through the dim house. 

Sebastian shifted the box he held in his hands, silently pleading for his sister to move out of the way.

The Sauvettere family had been torn apart when their mother, Olivia, moved away. Just two years after, their father died fighting a criminal, as he had been a police officer. 

They had been fortunate enough to have their nineteen year old sister, Audrey. She was legally able to move out, and she had made them move into their grandparent's old house. She even had a job and a boyfriend who was a few years older than her and trying to help them as much as he could.

But Sebastian wasn't ready to accept the fact that his family now consisted of two girls. Great. Such luck!

"Sara, move!" Sebastian growled, the box heavy and scratchy under his hands. 

"Sorry!" Sara said, her auburn locks bouncing as she moved out of Sebastian's way. Her hand skimmed across the wall, releasing dust into the air, until she finally found the light switch.  

Sara was fifteen, older than him by three years, and had soft locks of auburn hair. Like Audrey, she took after her mother, and even had Olivia's hazel eyes. Sara had round pink cheeks and was the perfect example of a sweet older sister. 

Sara was a tinker. She loved creating, fixing, and renovating anything she could get her hands on. 

Audrey had straight red hair much longer than Sara's, but less curly too. She had wide blue eyes, golden glasses, and always had a motherly attitude.

Sebastian took more after his father. He had strawberry blond hair and green eyes. He had an adventurous spirit, a sharp, quick-witted mind, and was always ready with a witty retort. 

Sebastian set the box down with a clunk, sending more dust flying.

"Why is this place so dusty?" Sebastian asked "The last time we were here, it was in perfect shape. Grandma and Grandpa took great care of it."

I wonder where they're living now. He thought.

Audrey had told him and Sara that their grandparents had given them the house, but didn't want to be a nuisance, as they were old and could not do much to profit their living conditions. So they moved out, allowing them to have the house to themselves. Sebastian hadn't thought they would leave it so...uncared for. 
"I'm sure the dust just settled while we were finishing packing," Audrey said. 

"Wow, a week and a half of no one in the house and this place seems older and dustier than dad's old underpants?" Sebastian said with a cough.

"Sebastian," Audrey gave him a warning look.

"I'm just sayin'!" Sebastian said, putting his hands up.

Sebastian sat down next to the boarded up bay window, trying to get a glimpse of the yard beyond.

Sara sat down next to him, idly tracing a rip in the saturated wallpaper. 

Sebastian sighed heavily. He missed his old town. He missed his friends, especially his best friend Mark. He missed his old house, which seemed as pristine as a queen's palace in comparison to this place!

It had been fun when he was little, and they weren't staying forever. It was fun when the house was clean and their grandparents were there to have a good time with them.

It was fun when mom and dad were around.

A strange, squeaky sound echoed throughout the room, and Sebastian and Sara jumped in unison.

"Relax, it was just the doorbell!" Audrey said with a roll of her eyes, and she walked briskly to the door. It creaked in protest as it was whipped open, and Audrey leaned against the wall, trying to seem chill.

"Hey, Josh," she said calmly. 

"Hi Eve," Josh said fondly. "Glad I made it to the right place."

"I know, it's practically an hour away from Pines Bluff." Audrey said, laughing without humor. "But, you know what they say! 'Distance makes the heart grow fonder.'" 

She's uncomfortable. Sebastian noticed. Trying to make a joke out of how far away we are from the only town we've really lived in.

"Yep, my heart has definitely grown fonder," Josh agreed, pushing his brown bangs away from his eyes.

"Come in!" Audrey exclaimed, backing away from the door to allow Josh inside. 

"Wow!" Josh said, coughing and waving a hand in front of his face. "It's a...bit dusty."

Audrey giggled nervously. "It is, isn't it?"

"It's not bad," Josh said, quickly changing his perspective. "I've seen a lot of worse houses on that house renovating show."

Audrey nodded, trying to seem convinced. "One moment, I need to talk to my siblings."

She grasped the arms of Sara and Sebastian strangely tight, then pulled them into a random room off the nearby hallway.

Her sappy expression quickly changed to a firm frown as she glowered down at her younger siblings.

"Here are the rules of this house. Sara, no crazy inventions that could kill someone," Audrey focused on Sara, who's cheeks went the same color as her hair. She had certainly had some mishaps with her creations, one causing a (minor) injury to Josh.

"Sebastian, no straying too far into the woods and coming back a day later looking like you were nearly

eaten by a bear or something." She glared at Sebastian.
"Okay, it wasn't a bear, it was a psycho fox who wanted my jerky," Sebastian corrected.

"Whatever," Audrey sighed. She took off her glasses and rubbed her eyes. "I need this to work," she said, her voice quiet and brittle. "It's the only house we've got, Josh is the only friend willing to drive out here to help us, and you guys are the only siblings who can help me. We're in the middle of the country, with hardly any neighbors, and this house is an absolute WRECK. So please, if you want me to keep my sanity, obey."

Sebastian and Sara nodded, understanding their sister's stress.

She gave them a small, watery smile, then hurried back out to Josh.

For a moment, the only sound was the couple's muffled conversation, until Sara spoke.

"Life is hard," she said, staring out a small window and absent-mindedly watching the leaves dance in the wind.

Sebastian glanced at her. Usually, Sara was kind and positive. 

"I don't know how we're going to get through this, but we're going to have to! We can do it!" She said, her enthusiasm returning.

"Yeah. But we better not get on Audrey's bad side, or she will cook us for dinner in that old grill that probably will set fire to someone." Sebastian reminded her. 

Sara rolled her eyes, a small smile playing on her lips. "Ha ha." She gave her brother a playful punch.

"Sebastian, Sara! We need to get this house in ship-shape, come on!" Audrey called. 

"Coming," Sara said loudly. Sebastian followed her out, into the main room.

"Okay!" Audrey said in an authoritative voice. "We need this house clean, and fast! Grab some gloves and washing supplies I have gathered and start cleaning!"

Sebastian pulled on some blue rubber gloves, a window wiper, a hammer (you never know!) and a sponge with a small bucket of soapy water. 

"Sebastian, you clean the upstairs bedrooms," Audrey commanded. "Sara, you fix up this main room. Josh, you can help me in the kitchen." They all spread out to take on their jobs.

As Sebastian dusted, cleaned the windows, and sweeped the empty bedrooms, he felt an inching feeling crawl up his spine. He felt as if...someone was watching him.

He turned around, eyeing the seemingly vacant room.

It's nothing. He tried to convince himself. Just me. 

He picked up his hammer and smashed through the boards on one of the windows, coughing as more dust and dirt filled the room. The house seems like it was a millennia old. 

That shivery feeling struck him again, and, almost automatically, his eyes strayed up to the very top of the large window he had just unboarded. 

There, staring at him, was a large pair of shimmery golden eyes.

He yelped, stumbling back and crashing into his supplies. 

Head aching from being banged on the hardwood floor, he nervously sat up. His soapy water had spilled all over the floor and down his front, the broom had clattered to the floor when the bucket fell,

and the hammer had slipped out of his hand and crashed to the floor with a bang. 

Plenty of ruckus to scare off the creature watching him.
Sebastian, his fear wearing off, scrambled to his feet and hurried over to the window again.
"Wait!" He exclaimed. "Don't go! I'm sorry I scared you, it was an accident!"

But whoever had been watching him had vanished, leaving nothing to identify them. All Sebastian now saw was the mist from the fog outside clouding the window, and the distant shape of evergreen trees swaying in the wind. 

Chapter 2:

"Sebastian, are you all right!?" Audrey's light voice came from down the stairs. "What was that noise?"
"Uh, nothing!" Sebastian called back. "J-just tripped!"

"Alright..." Audrey still sounded slightly concerned.

Sebastian stood there, not taking his eyes off the window. His mission had once been to clean the house, but now it was to find the entity. 

"You said we could have pizza after we finished our jobs," Sebastian reminded Audrey as he sat heavily down in a faded red armchair in the main room.

"Yes, yes, we'll order something," Audrey said, waving it off as if the delicious thought of food was nothing.

"Nice job on the rooms, Seb," Josh said, coming into the room from work inspection.

"Thanks," Sebastian said, for once not minding the nickname.

"I was a bit worried that your work would be messed up after your fall, but it seems fine," Audrey said, giving Josh a nod. 
"OKAY! It's pizza time!" Josh announced. 

"Wooh!" Sebastian cheered, hopping up from his seat. Sara grinned, pulling her hair into a white flower clip. 

"I'll go pick up some of our favorites. Does anyone want to come with me?" Josh asked, gesturing to his gray-blue car outside the window.

"Su-" Sebastian shut his mouth. He had just seen something outside the window! It had looked like a glimmer of gold!

"No, actually, I wanna stay here and explore outside," Sebastian said quickly.

"Really?" Audrey looked him up and down. "Your usually all for riding with Josh."
"But this is a new house with new exploration to be done!" Sebastian said, putting on his most adventurous face. "I must go! Destiny calls!" He rushed out the squeaky back door.

Before he shut it completely, he added, "Make sure to save me some pepperoni." Then slammed the stiff door closed.

Sebastian shivered as the mist seemed to soak him. It was late October, and everything was obscured by the fog and chilly.

He walked through the yard, trying not to run into any trees. He didn't like traveling in the fog, it was much harder to navigate through the pines. 

"Hello!?" He called, wondering if the creature was out here. He knew it couldn't be human-no one could have golden eyes. 

"Are you looking for someone?" Said a whispery voice.

Sebastian jumped back, looking around.

Out of the fog, a beautiful girl appeared. 

She had long, shiny blond turrets that flowed down her back and wide, shimmery golden eyes. She had copper-colored skin, and pointed ears. She wore a flowy silver dress, and a tiara that seemed

to be made of real opals.

"Yes, actually, I was looking for you," Sebastian admitted, taking a step back from the majestic creature in front of him.

"I suspected," the girl said, cocking her head at him. "You were quite startled when you saw me. I apologize for causing any fear."

"I-it's fine. I'm just not used to seeing any..." Sebastian studied her, the full effect of what she looked like sinking in. "Who are you?"

"I am Orla, princess of the Drynians," she said, with an elegant bow.

"Drynians? I've never heard of Drynians," Sebastian said.

"We are related to the Dryads." The princess said. 

"Wow. So, you're a magical creature?" Sebastian said in amazement. 

"Yes, I suppose humans do suppose us to be mythical," Orla said with a shrug. "We mainly keep hidden out of fear."

"Then...why'd you show yourself to me?" Sebastian asked. 

"I could not help but be interested in the young man who had inhabited the dangerous house," Orla said. "My curiosity got the better of me, and I disobeyed my father's rules to watch you work."

"Why did your father have a rule to not watch people work?" Sebastian said.

"Oh, it's not about watching people work," Orla told him. "It's about going too close to that house. It is cursed, you see. Deeply cursed."

"Really? But, me and my sisters live there!" Sebastian exclaimed. "Are we cursed?"

"I don't know. No one dares to enter at will, I am the first one to actually climb on it," Orla said. 
"Well, then I must tell my family!" Sebastian said. "We can't stay if the house will curse us!"

Orla's flawless features twisted into a sad scowl. "But I just met you. You cannot leave so soon."

Sebastian felt guilt churn in his stomach. "I understand. You're the first Drynian I've ever met, but my family is in danger!"

Orla sighed sadly. "I agree. You must tell them to leave. But, maybe, will you come back and visit me?"

Sebastian pondered this. He could always come back and see her without setting a foot in the house, of course. As long as he convinced his family to let him come back every once and a while.

"Sure. I'll try," Sebastian said with a nod.
Orla's face brightened. "Thank you. Goodbye."

As Sebastian turned away, she said, "Wait! What is your name?"

"I'm Sebastian. Sebastian Sauvettere." Then he dashed up the hill he had come down.

But as he neared the house, something pulled him to the ground.

"Ow!" He said. He looked around confusedly, but no one was there.

He pulled himself to his feet, but stopped. Was that a movement in the trees behind him?
"Who's there!?" Sebastian demanded. 

After a moment, a deep voice, colder than the biting air, said, "We are The Lost. The ones who guard this curse."

"You guard a curse?" Sebastian said in disbelief.