Spooktober 2019.

Day 1.

~something goes bump in the night.~

Having been the only person to carry on the family bloodline, Lana was subjected to a numerous family heirlooms, properties, lands, documents, and other things owned by her parents, aunts and uncles.

It's true, however, Uncle Ford had planned to give away his property to his son, Benny, but at the ripe age of twenty-six, he met with a rather amusing accident. Of course, who in the world would've thought he'd choke on frozen pizza rolls? Besides, he'd been one of those lazy, downtown crack dealers, and Lana hadn't found much reason to grieve his loss.

About eight years later, a week after uncle Ford (bless his soul), moved into his new house, he passed away from a cardiac arrest. Aunt Miriam, unable to handle the death of her lover, passed away by a heart attack a few weeks later. It came as a shock, yes, but on the plus side, Lana had a new antique book shop to run, conjoined to a cosy little, single-storey house.

Time being the fickle thing it is, soon favoured Lana, and although she had lost her job a month ago, running an antique book shop would be a new experience for her, something to add to the CV, she supposed.

Now that you know why Lana is here, and where she is, it seems safe to say that you might understand what she has been going through. Maybe even help her out a bit.

Our story, finally, begins on a what Lana would call a normal night for her. It's Canada, so it's only fit that the weather is usually cold. It isn't as dark, since the lamp posts and the neon signs illuminate the sky enough for Lana to have no reason to be alarmed. She drives her yellow, deteriorating Prius down the 5th St.Quentin's Lane, bobbing her head to one of those peppy pop songs, and takes a turn around the corner to pull into the driveway of the bookshop, attached to her house from the front.

She shuts off the engine, grabs her hand bag from the passenger seat, pulling her cellphone out and slinging the bag over her shoulders. She texts Tania, telling her she's reached (Tania can be really moody, if she tells you to text her when you reach home, you better, or she'll make sure that next time you don't reach home at all).

Without much thought, Lana pulls out her keys, shoves them in the lock and swings the door open. The lights are switched off, making the bookshop look like nothing but ruins of what could've been a masterpiece in broad daylight. She reaches her hand out in the darkness, flailing it around until she feels her hand graze past the switch. With a flick, the lights in the bookshop come to life, and the bookshop emerges into brightness. Lana winces, hey eyes not well adjusted yet.

She makes her way through the backdoor of the shop into her own house. The backdoor of the shop leads to the living room of her house, and as she enters into the living room-

Thud.

She whips her head back, the hair on her back rising up in panic.

"Uhm..."
She mumbles to herself, and ducks out of the door panel to glance at what may have caused the commotion.

Before she can step further, a smooth, ticklish sensation passes over her feet and she jumps back, screaming over and over again, until her eyes fall on the little grey mouse, which runs across the corner, that might have been to blame for both the commotion, as well as running over her foot.

Sheesh, thank god, it's just a mouse.

Lana sighs, placing a hand over her chest and breathing loud to calm herself. Shaking her head, she slams the door shut behind her, and heads out of the living room and into her kitchen to prepare dinner for herself.