Lauren Taylor has everything one may need to live their dream life. She has the perfect job, the perfect house in a new town, and the perfect roommate. Living in Oregon was her goal for many years. Oregon is known for its beautiful and diverse landscapes. It has mountains, forests, farms as well as beaches. Being an admirer of the mountains and sceneries, Lauren ensured to get a house near the woods overlooking the mountains.

Running away from her past was not easy and after years, Lauren felt her happiest self ever since she moved to Oregon. But one evening when Lauren returned home from work, she felt a presence in her house. At first, she brushed the feeling aside. However, on investigating, Lauren discovered something unusual.

Lauren Taylor

Lauren was born and brought up in Chicago. She was kind and clever, and that is what drew people to her. There was a steadiness to her demeanor, something that had the capability of making a storm whisper like a breeze. She has always been fiercely independent, always aware of what she wants from life. It was time to leave behind the weight of her past, it was time to move on. She has been thinking about getting a fresh start for a while now. But she needed a new job in a place miles and miles away from Chicago. She had applied for a couple of different jobs but so far, she has not heard back from anyone.

The Phone Call

Lauren’s attention was caught by her ringing phone resting on the kitchen counter. Her eyes went wide when she saw the caller id, it was from Southern Oregon University, one of the places she had applied for a job. Her anxiety kicked in as her heart started racing in her chest. She picked up the phone with shaky nerves and hesitation.”Thank you so much! See ya!”, Lauren hung up the phone with a huge smile on her face. Her energy reached a whole new level when she realized it wasn’t a rejection call. She got it! She actually got the job. This means she gets to leave Chicago. This is her shot at a fresh start. She decided to purchase a new house. The house seemed welcoming from the outside. It had a nice arched entrance, with white pillars on either side laced with green vines twirled around them. There was a fountain in the massive backyard and the rooms had staircase built around real tree branches. The balconies were decorated with huge plants as well. Safe to say, Lauren was in love with this house.

Unlocking The Front Door

After a long day at the office Lauren carried the grocery bags to the house. Her hands fumbled with the keys as she tried to unlock the door in the first go. With no light turned on, the house was engulfed by darkness. Lauren reached the tall table next to the door and placed everything on top of it. Her hands searched for the switch in the darkness and turned it on. A frown appeared on Lauren’s face. She could tell the house appeared different than usual yet she couldn’t point out what was different. She took a few steps towards the kitchen and heard some movement in the living room. Lauren froze in her spot. She knew for a fact her roommate was not home, there was no car in the driveway.

The Unexpected Visitor

Right around that time, Lauren heard her roommate’s car pull up in their driveway. She felt a sinking feeling with a little relief, at least she wasn’t alone. Her roommate came in through the front door and Lauren rushed towards her with her finger on her lips, “There is someone in the house” she whispered. As if on cue, the girls heard something move in their living room.Lauren stepped closer to the living room door and peeked inside. She noticed it’s tail at first, her eyes moved across the long furry body and landed on the glowing eyes staring right back at her. There was a mountain lion sitting on the floor of her living room!

Knock Knock

By this point, Lauren realized there was utter silence in the room. She went outside through the front door into her back yard and peeked in through the window which showed the mountain lion sitting behind the couch. She couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw that the animal is fast asleep on the floor! Lauren slowly tapped on the window to check if the animal is in deep sleep. The mountain lion opened its eyes instantly. Lauren tried to look into its eyes with a loving gaze sending out comforting and trusting energy. To her surprise, the animal stretched its body and went back to sleep!