m******e Mansion

Chapter 2- Saturday

RUN 

     That's all that was going through my mind. I had just ran out the doors of a mansion being chased by something, and all I knew was that I had to run. How long could I run through the woods? Even now it seemed like "it" was gaining on me. I just wanted to get home. My burning desire to rest my poor legs on my warm, comfortable bed and sleep was overwhelming

     Exhaustion was flooding through my veins, but I kept running, over fallen trees, ducking under branches that seemed to be reaching out for me, reaching with thin fingers to stop me in my journey of traveling out of this place. 

     I came to a clearing only to find the same mansion that I had been running from. 

       "How.......how.......how?!?! I didn't run in circles!!! I've been running for hours!! There's no way--" and just as I was about to finish my sentence of disbelief, I heard a maniacal laugh coming from behind me.

     "Did you really think you could get away, you foolish girl? There's no escape. You cannot leave once you have entered. And you cannot leave ME!! You are MINE!!!" A menacing voice whispered into my ear. 'How did he get so close so fast? Who is this person?' My thoughts screamed as I turned around only to see violet eyes, and then a knife glinting in the moonlight being plunged down...down...

      I sprang up from my bed drenched in sweat, gulping down air as if I couldn't get enough. 'It was all a dream, Klarissa. It wasn't real. You're safe in your own house, in  your own room, in your own bed. What was that though?! Who was that?!'

      I turned to my nightstand searching for the luminescent green glow of the numbers on my clock.

      '2:50 huh? It seems like a long way until daylight.' I plopped down in my bed and just layed there staring at the blank ceiling, going over and evaluating on what that dream could have meant. 'Probably just a random nightmare. Nothing significant. I'll have forgotten about it by the time I wake up again.' Maybe if I wasn't so tired I meant have took it as a sign. I could have stopped the inevitable from happening. I wouldn't have went so blindly to my doom.

                                                                              •                •                •

 6 hours later 

    8:50 am 

     I awoke to the smell of a sweet aroma filling the air. 'Mmmm, cinnamon rolls'. I rolled over groggily and sat up, placing my bare feet against the soft carpet of my floor. I looked around my white room noticing a sticky note attached to my door. I slowly got up and trudged over to it, grabbing it and recognizing my mother's handwriting, and read the neat writing.

   Good Morning Sweet Pea,

      I came in to wake you up, but you looked so tired I let you sleep in. I made breakfast (you and Kadince's favorite!), and now I've got to go work.

              XOXO Momma 

       That women...sometimes I don't think she knows that I'm sixteen years old, but I let it slide. It must be hard for her, our father recently died from cancer and she hasn't been the same. She is a single mother who works day in and day out to support the family, I help when I can, but it's hard. Kadince understands as well, so she doesn't complain much either and helps when she can. 

      I open my door and realise how cold it is outside my room wearing only shorts and a tank-top. Even though I'm shivering, I suck it up and walk over to the thermostat to check the temperature. 62°F. Was she trying make us freeze? I turned it up to sixty-eight and continued walking to the stairs. Just as I was about to take the first step down, my dog, a mastiff named Lily, came zooming past knocking me off balance. As my face was about to collide with the stairs, Kadince was suddenly up the stairs holding me up. I don't know how that girl did it, nor how her skinny little body was strong enough to hold me up, but she managed and helped me steady.

     "Woah there, Klarri. Don't wanna ruin your face. How the heck did you almost have a meeting with the stairs?" She says as she climbs the last few stairs, crouched over from holding me up while trying to get me back on my feet.

      "Lily, like usual. I forgot it was doggy rush hour. Why was the cat let out so early?" I questioned. Normally our cat, a Himalayan breed whom we named Chunk, wasn't let out of Kadince's room until 9 because that's when everyone was typically awake.

      "Silly Sis, you slept through the wake time. It's already 9:15, and breakfast is getting cold. Now, let's get you down the stairs gracefully and without the case of the clumsy," She jokingly said. At that we began walking down the stairs, without disturbances from Lily or Chunk, and turned left into the kitchen.

      Our kitchen is a simple, normal sized one with a white tile wall and a mahogany wood floor. White wood cupboards lined the walls with brass handles. A porcelain sink with a silver faucet and crystal knobs was our means of washing the dishes, and a small, round, metal table was in the middle used for meals. On the middle of the table was 4 cinnamon rolls, two for me and two for Kadince. 

     "I waited for, like, an hour to eat my cinnamon rolls. The struggle was real," She grumbled as she grabbed one and bit a piece off. I reached forward and grabbed one, taking it towards my mouth while the sweet aroma filled the entire room. It was enough to make my mouth water. I copied Kadince in the act of biting off a piece and savoring the cinnamony flavor. The white glaze melted in my mouth as I chewed on the yummy breakfast food.

       Once we had finished our breakfast, we walked into the living room and plopped down on the leather sofa. I grabbed the remote and clicked the buttons to turn the tv on. Like usual, there was nothing of interest on, so I stopped it at the news. As it so conveniently seemed to be, the news reporter was talking about the Ferdinan Mansion.

    "For the townsfolk of Drearton, today marks a very grim date. It is the third year from the last killings at the Ferdinan Mansion. Three years and the police still have no lead on who or what might be killing off these teenagers. Here we have Officer Frank Jayton here to give a message."                                                    It's the same every three years. They always give the speech that every Drearton citizen knows. We're basically taught this from birth, but when you have crazy friends who always have a knack for dangerous 'adventures' you can't help it. So now here I am with Kadince, listening to the words from the officer that we should be listening to, but we just can't bring ourselves to. We know we're going to be the teenagers this year who are 'dumb enough' to go to m******e Mansion, but we can't help it. We don't want to be labeled the wusses for not going. What if my friends came back victorious without a scratch saying the curse is just a fake? They'd never let me live it down.

    I clicked the tv off. I wasn't in the mood for a lecture, especially not from a television. 

    "So what should we do now, Kadince? Call up the gang and make the plans or just sit here and stare at the wall for the remaining 8 hours?" I asked sarcastically.

     "You go call them. I'm gonna go make myself look presentable," She explained, getting up and walking away. I pulled out my phone and called Lidia, because that would be way quicker than calling all of them because I know Lidia will inform everyone of the plans herself. On the fourth ring, she answered

 " Hi, Cherry! What's up?" Lidia inquired. 'Cherry' was an inside joke from way back in middle school when I had crashed into someone having cherry ice cream that spilled all over me, and since my face turned as red as one, the name stuck.

  "I was calling to see what the plans were for tonight. What are we gonna tell our parents so we can go out without suspicion?"

   " Way ahead of you on that one. We're telling them that we're going to Mark's house for a party s***h sleep-over since his parents are on a vacation. And since there's no suspicion from our parents when it comes to Mark, they won't think twice about it."

   " Smart. So where are we actually meeting up?"

   " Well, Luke was gonna pick us all up, then we're going to the doors of the Great Wall of Electricity."

     "And how are we supposed to get through that? That wall is on all the time, and no one has ever found a way through it. I think your fool-proof plan has a problem, Lidia."

    "I've already thought about that, too. Turns out Nathaniel actually has a purpose. His father's friend's cousin's uncle's mother knows a guy who works on the fence and he's bribed him to turn it off just for a few minutes. Just enough time for us to get through without being burnt to a crisp."

    "Huh, who would have thought. Well, I guess it's all set then. We're actually going. Do we have all the supplies?"

    "What do you mean supplies? It's a bring-your-own-necessities dealio, Cherry."

     "Oh. Well TTYL, Lidia"

      "TTYL"

       It seemed like the plan was all set..just great. I guess there was no backing out now. I just hoped they all knew what they were agreeing too. 

                                                                •                   •                    •

    "KADINCE!  WHERE'D MY STRIPED BAG GO?" I yelled out to her. 'That little punk. I bet she took it. Why must she take everything of mine?' I hear running footsteps stop outside my door. Slowly my door opens revealing a guilty face.

    "Oops. Were you gonna use that? Sorry, I kinda..um..already put my stuff in it," She quietly mumbled as she rubbed the back of her neck looking down. She had the bag in question in her other hand.

     " Ugh, fine. But next time ask before you use my stuff. Now I gotta go find another one," I groaned, getting up and making a little 'hmph' noise. I walked over to my mirror-closet and pulled out my blue one covered in ocean stickers that I used when I was in first grade.

     "You still have that thing?" Kadince asked, wrinkling up her nose in disgust.

     "Dad gave it to me. I don't have it in me to just throw it away," I explained. It was of huge sentimental value to me, and I always called it my lucky bag. With where we were going, I was gonna need all the luck I could get. 

     Kadince made a face of understanding and walked out of the room. I packed the things I would need for one night and a few extra things. A flashlight, batteries, a hair brush, another pair of clothes, a cropped sweatshirt, a couple snacks, and some water. 

     I went to the bathroom and brushed through my long, auburn hair and changed out of my pajamas into a black tube top with a white cropped jacket, self-cut black jean shorts, and black converse. I looked into the mirror and looked at my sapphire blue orbs.

    "You are going to be fine, Klarissa. Nothing is going to happen. It's gonna be just like every other weekend that we all get together." I firmly told myself. I looked myself over once more, grabbed my bag and phone, and went to get Kadince.

    Kadince had her long red hair curled in a half up-half down look. She had put on a little bit of silver eyeshadow and pink lipstick. She was wearing a white tube top with a black cropped jacket, self-cut white jean shorts, and white converse. I swear that girl does everything I do. 

     "Are you ready yet, Lil' Me?" I jokingly asked, referring to her choice of clothing.

     " Sure am, Big Me," she replied, smiling a toothy grin.

     "Well, I still have to call mom and tell her 'where we're going,'" I winked at her and pulled out my phone. I typed in her number and was met with her voice on the first ring.

   "Hello, Dear. Is everything all right?"

    "Yes, Mom. I just called to tell you that me and Kandi are going to my friend Mark's house tonight with the rest of my friends. We'll be home tomorrow."

     "OK, Sweetie. Don't have too much fun. And be sure that you're home by 10 A.M. tomorrow because I have a surprise for you guys."

     "Sure thing, Mom. Love you"

     "Love you too, sweetheart."

      I put my phone away and looked at Kadince.

     "All set. Momma said we can go. Now we just have to wait for Luke,"I told her, taking a seat on her bed while looking out the window to our driveway.

      "Sis...are you sure we should be doing this? I mean, it's been three years, and it's about that time-"

      "It's just a story, Kandi. It's the type of thing that parents tell their kids so they won't go into the woods at night. It's only a coincidence. Nothing will happen to you. Or me. Or any of us. Come here," I said reassuringly, opening my arms to her. She walked over and I pulled her into a hug. I started stroking her hair and I heard her beginning to choke up.

    "But...but wh-what happens if it is real? What h-happens if we do die? W-what w-will happen t-to Mom?" She cried, looking up into my eyes. 

    "Shhhh, shhh. There, there," I said continuing to stroke her hair, " I won't let anything happen to us. We're gonna come home tomorrow and we're gonna be here with Mom."

     She buried her face into my chest and continued to weep. I understood why she was crying. It's all those what if's. I would be crying too if it weren't for her breaking down. I had to be strong for her. I didn't necessarily want to go either, but I wasn't about to let anything bad happen to my friends if I could help it. They weren't going to have second thoughts, not like me and Kadince.

       I just sat there rocking back and forth stroking her hair and hugging her to bring comfort. That's what she needed, and that's what I needed. After about fifteen minutes, she had calmed down.

      "Now, why don't you go wipe your face and re-apply your makeup? You aren't gonna impress anyone looking like a train wreck," I laughed and wiped her cheek with my thumb.

      "Ok. I'll..I'll go do that," she said, smiling weakly. She got up and walked into her bathroom. No matter how old she got she was still my little baby sister, but I never realized how heavy she had gotten. My legs were asleep. I carefully got up and stretched out my legs, making them feel like thousands of needles were prickling into my skin. I walked around her room looking at all the pictures strung up. There was Kadince and her best friend, there was one of me and Kadince when I was 6 and she was 4. There was the one with all four of us, me, Kadince, Mom, and Dad. I stealthily grabbed that one and put it into my bag. I wasn't leaving that behind today.

      As Kadince walked out looking better than she did when she walked in, we heard a car horn. I glanced out the window seeing a dark purple van.

      "Looks like that's our ride. Are you sure you wanna do this, Kandi?" I asked with concern written on my face. 

      "Of course I am. If Cherry can do it, so can I," she reassured me with her tongue sticking out. I guess that was it. As we walked down the steps about to leave, Lily was standing guard at the door growling. Chunk was nowhere to be seen. 

       "What's the matter, Lily girl?" I asked as she continued to sit and growl at the door. I pat her head while looking at her confused. As I went to open the door she barked. Why was she acting like this?  She never acted like this before.

      "Kadince, go put her in the living room," I told her as she grabbed Lily's collar and dragged her into the adjoining room. That gave us enough time to quickly open the door and step out. We continued to walk down the driveway and a window rolled down.

       "Took ya long enough," Miranda called out sticking her head out the side of the van. "We've been sitting here for hours!"

      "Actually, it was only six minutes and eight seconds to be exact," Nathaniel corrected.

     "Who cares how long it took? Let's just get going," Caspian said with an impatient look on his face.

      Kadince and I opened a door and got inside the van. I couldn't believe we were really doing this. Luke began backing out of the driveway and we were on our way to 'The Great Wall of Electricity' as we call it. It would only be about a fifteen minute drive. As I was looking out the window watching the surrounding go past, Mark started whispering to me.

     "Hey, are you doing okay?" He asked.

     "Yeah. As ok as I can be speaking the fact that we are going to the Ferdinan Mansion," I replied snappily.

      "I was just asking. I think we all are a bit on edge. I know I'd rather not be going, " he said.

      "Then why are you?" I questioned. This is probably the most he's ever talked at one time.

      "The same reason everyone else is. We're all going to prove something. Haven't you noticed? Lidia is going to prove that she is actually the leader here, Caspian is going to prove that no matter what he will always be a trickster even if the worst of moments, Luke is going to prove that he's strong and fearless, Lewis is going to prove that he's not just some do-good guy, Miranda is going because she is trying to show off to Lewis, Nathaniel is going to prove that he does have a purpose, Kadince is going to prove to us that she is worth being in our group, and I'm going...well...you can figure that out yourself," He said with a smirk. How can he so easily read people. But...

   "Why am I going? What do I have to prove?" I questioned. He never mentioned me.

    "Now that I don't quite know yet. I don't even think you yourself know at the moment," He contemplatively stated with that same smirk, but he was wrong. I knew why I came. I came to keep everyone safe. Didn't I? I didn't have anything to prove...right? 

     I turned back to the window only to see the wire fence. It looked so much more intimidating at dusk.

     "Well...we're here," Luke said. One by one we filed out of the car.

     "You'd better not have been lying about getting this electric fence deactivated, Nathaniel," Caspian warned.

      "Yeah, I don't feel like being shocked to death," Lewis stated.

      "Relax, the fence is off. See..." he said as he reached out to touch it.

  AHHHHHH!!!!

      We all jumped and ran over to Nathaniel thinking it was him. 

      "What the hell?!" Lidia shouted as we saw no damage done to Nathaniel.

      "I'm sorry, that was me," Miranda said putting her head down in shame. "I thought I saw a spider."

       "Geez, Miranda! Don't do that! We thought someone was hurt," I scolded her.

       "It won't happen again. I swear," she promised.

       "Back to what I was showing," Nathaniel said rolling his eyes and touching the wire," it's off and it's not coming on for a little while."

         "Is everyone ready?" Lidia inquired. Everyone mumbled their answer, but there seemed to be no objections. 

          "Let's go!" Caspian exclaimed.

          "Ladies first, " Luke winked. All of them went through. Kadince and I stood looking at each other then the fence.

          "This is the last chance to turn back, Kandi..." I trailed off. She just looked at me and nodded, grabbing my hand.

           "Together?"

          "Together." And with that we went through the fence just in time to hear the electric buzz of the wire turn back on. There really was no going back.