LI. A Mop

Raine’s POV:

Through the thick trees, a house came into view. It was a well-maintained building, with a small fruit garden in the front. Sonny parked the car and got out. When I got out, two small bodies appeared from the tree.

“Hi?”

The young boys stared at me before they rushed into the forest.

“Bye?”

Sonny laughed, “I told you. You don’t have to try to make friends.”

“I’m just being polite.”

He twirls the keys around his finger, “No need for that around here.” He made his way towards the house.

I rushed after him, “What is this place?”

A chair creaked.

I turned my head towards a woman who sat on the rocking chair. She stared at us while we passed by.

That’s not creepy at all.

Sonny stops at the front door, “It’s a place established by the Luna for the...homeless.”

“Isn’t that what the homeless shelter is for?” I know I shouldn’t be asking so many questions towards someone kind enough to take me in, but I need to know what I’m getting into.

“We’re sort of different.” Sonny opens the door, “We’re the type who isn’t suited to be in a populated area.”

I saw a werewolf shift in the middle of the street and a vampire who bangs his forehead against the brick wall. He’s telling me they’re acceptable in a populated area, but those who live inside the house I’m about to enter aren’t?

That doesn’t make sense.

Sonny entered the house, and I poke my head inside. The inside of the building matches the outside. There was a fireplace on the other side of the wall, a flat-screen above it, and two large sofas in the middle of the room.

Three sets of eyes turn towards us.

Their hands stop moving the toys in front of them.

“Come on. I’ll show you where your room will be.” Sonny walks past them and towards the stairs.

Quickly, I followed him.

Their eyes follow me.

Their noses wiggle in the air before they return to their toys.

“Vroom,” one of them said. “Vroom,” he said again. “Cars go vroom. My car is red, and it goes vroom.”

“My car is blue, and it goes vroom too,” the other said.

“Me too,” the third one responds. “Vroom.”

Generally, that shouldn’t seem creepy, but it is. Their voices. It was so bland and depressing.

Past two doors, Sonny stops. “Here is your room.” He opens the door. The room was simple, like the house. There was a single desk and bed.

“Thank you,” I said.

He smiles, “Not a problem. Enjoy your stay.”

“You’re leaving?”

“Yeah. I have some things to do. Feel free to raid the fridge.” He messed up my hair and left.

That was it.

Now, I’m alone in a house with people that enjoy staring at strangers.

After a nap, I found myself in the darkness. I switch on the light and look around the room. The closet was beside the empty wooden desk. The bed was covered in freshly cleaned sheets.

That was it.

Unable to withstand the silence, I took a walk around the house. Most of the doors inside the house were closed. I followed Sonny’s instructions and kept them closed. The last thing I need is to run into more trouble. Plus, I’m living underneath someone else’s house; I should follow their rules.

With the open doors, I explored it. It was the same as my bedroom, except some of them had one or two bunk beds.

After exploring upstairs, I went downstairs. I flick on the light to see an empty living room. The kitchen was the same.

It felt as if no one lived inside the house.

I saw a pile of dishes on the sink.

Some of them were in the trash can.

I rolled up my sleeves. I should do something for them since I’m living here for free.

First, I washed the dishes.

Then, I clean the trash can.

I took out the dishes from the trashcan and washed them.

Next, I took out the trash.

When I’m outside, I heard several howls.

I chuckle, “Right. You’re living inside a pack.” I ran back inside the house.

After I finished with the dishes and trash, I swept the floor.

Then, I found it.

The laundry room.

Inside the laundry room was a mountain of clothes. There was a note on the dirty clothes - Clean and fold.

“Is this note for me?”

I searched for the laundry detergent and did the laundry. I used the timer I found inside the pile of clothes. After I cleared a bit of the narrow hallway, I found the path into the garage.

“Woah.” Inside the garage were three nicely kept cars. I peek inside to see the keys hanging...tempting.

After exploring the cars, I walk back into the kitchen. There were four people inside the room. The moment I step inside, they stop mumbling to each other. They look at me.

“H-Hi,” I said.

Their eyes went towards the empty sink.

I smile, “I did the dishes since it was piling.”

They didn’t respond. Instead, they look at each other. Their noses wiggled. They’re trying to determine my species type.

One of them steps forward. Unconsciously, I step back. He places two bags filled with containers on the counter. I watch as he opens it, and everyone circles him.

One of the girls gathers five plates from the cabinets, and the guy scoops food into the dishes. Silently, they sat down.

There was an empty area and a plate full of food.

One of the other guys looks at me.

“Is that for me?” I asked.

He nods.

Steadily, I sat down.

I am hungry.

I stood up and searched for a spoon. Once I found it, I sat down again. I noticed how no one had any utensils. Before I could spoon up the first spoonful of food, they all grab it with their hands.

The spoon slipped from my fingers.

In less than five minutes, everyone finished eating.

They all stood up and threw the plate inside the sink or trash can. Then, they left the kitchen.

The food was all over the floor, and containers were still on the counter.

“That explains the food I see all over the ground and clothes,” I mumbled.

I picked up the spoon and ate my portion.

Beggars can’t be choosers.

After I found the dishes in the sink, washed the dishes, swept the floor, and did another load of laundry, I went to bed.

The sound of a scream woke me up. Instantly, I rushed out of the bedroom and towards the sound. There were a group of people with their heads stuck out of the front window. I found a small free area and did the same.

A van park in front of the house.

It wasn’t Sonny’s car or one of the cars inside the garages.

The car door slid open, and five people with masks stepped out.

It’s not Crescent Moon.

Could the homeless center send people for me?

No.

That’s not possible.

Is it?

But, what value could I bring to them?

Did they find out I’m from another world through my blood?

I grip onto the frame of the window. The more I thought about my situation, the tighter my stomach became. I swallowed firmly and slid my body back as they popped open the trunk.

What is it they’re getting? A chain? A body bag? A flamethrower? A sword? A magical stick?

Then - a mop?

They took out a mop, broom, and a bunch of bottles. Each of them put on gloves before they made their way towards the house.

“Ugh. They’re going to make the house smell funny again,” a young teenager mumbled. He stood up and walked towards the stairs. A group of others followed him, but a few stayed in the living room.

The five people entered the house and opened all the windows inside. Then, it began - the deep cleaning process.

I sat beside the window and watched as they sweep, vacuum, mop, and then vacuum again. One of them walked towards me with a sprayer and towel then cleaned the window.

I moved from the window towards the kitchen only to feel the slippery floor. I grabbed the edge of the counter and slowly made my way around the kitchen.

In the back door, I could hear voices.

“Hey, do you ever wonder about the people living here?” One of the person’s questions.

“What do you mean?”

I poked my head towards the door and watched as they dug out the vegetables from the garden.

“Don’t they seem weird to you? We’ve been working for them for over a month, and no one ever talks to us. Not a ‘hi’ or a ‘bye.’ They only stare at us.”

“What’s so weird about that? We’re hired to cook, clean, and garden. We’re their employees, not their friends. They don’t have to talk to us. And with the amount the Alpha pays us, who cares if they’re weirdos.”

They grabbed the basket full of vegetables and made their way towards the door. When they saw me, they didn’t say a single word. Instead, they would turn on the sink water and wash the vegetables.

Near sunset, the five people pack up their stuff and leave without a single goodbye.

Unlike the first night, tonight, the house smells like a fresh breeze of Spring. The sink was empty, the fridge was full of food, the counter had cleaned fruits, and there wasn’t a speck of dust on the furniture. The laundry room was devoid of clothes. Each closed door had a basket of neatly folded clothes beside it. Every toy was organized in the corner of the living room. Even the fireplace was on.

I sat on the couch.

I don’t know what they did, but even the couch felt incredible.

Who are these people?

Not the cleaners, but the people living here.

I fell asleep on the couch.

It was officially my second day inside the house, and I still haven’t seen Sonny.

Cory and Helen said they would be here tomorrow to pick me up. This means I’m one day away from returning to peace.

Without my phone, my game station, school, or a job, I was utterly bored. So, I passed the day with chores around the house. Previously, the people who lived here would stare at me, but now, they don’t anymore.

Everyone here does their own things.

As long as I don’t invade their personal space, everything seems to be jolly.

If I weren’t so afraid of all the werewolves in the territories I lived in, I would’ve stayed in this house.

Enrolled in a high school.

Find a job.

Save money.

Find a way home.

Some cleaners would come here often to fix something that broke or clean up a mess.

The people who live here would share their portion of food with me whenever they see me.

Even the creepy children who climb the fruit trees would give me fruit whenever they pick them.

This is the ideal place to live.

How stupid of me.

If something seems too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true.