Astravore

- Come on! We have already came so far! - Yeah Maddie! Don't be such a scared baby! - If it wasn't safe the townhouse wouldn't allow the entertainment company to turn this castle into a Halloween scare house! - Connor is right! Maddie please! - Maddie stared at the timeless building with wide eyes and trembling limbs. It must have been built sometime in the late 1700s, as the stucco displayed the characteristic features of the architecture of that era. The flickering lights, eerie laughter, and mysterious music filtering through the old, dusty windows did not fit the picturesque scene at all. Outside, the weather was getting colder, the clouds had cleared, and the bright full moon illuminated the now barren garden. On their way here, Maddie stopped and tried to imagine these wide gardens in their old beauty. The shadow of the fountain covered the small group of friends. Maddie was still not sure if this was a good idea. In fact, she had only joined her friends because she was interested in the history of the house and its architectural features. She couldn't stand supernatural things and considered scaring people to be childish. With a brother who was a renowned architect and parents who were university professors, Maddie was much more mature than her peers. So, thinking it through, she felt even more ridiculous in her black outfit with fake vampire teeth in her mouth. That was the best costume her best friend, Ally, could get her to wear. Ally, dressed as an angel, clung to Connor's arm. Her long blonde hair and sky-blue eyes only made her costume more realistic, at least as far as the popular image of angels was concerned. When Maddie saw the angel-devil duo, she literally slapped her forehead. She didn't even try to explain to Ally what biblically correct angels look like. Connor smiled encouragingly at her. He was a tall, handsome American football player with short brown hair and puppy dog eyes, the dream of every teenage girl. They were a picture perfect High-school, couple. Connor luckily was head over heels for Ally and likewise. As she was watching her friends being all lovely-dovely, suddenly, Maddie felt a touch on her shoulder and immediately raised her hand to slap the unwanted guest. But then the owner of the arm grabbed her hand and tried to calm her down with a laugh. - Maddie! Chill! It's just me! - Justin said from behind his Scream mask, removing it. Maddie smiled shyly. Justin, Connor's best friend, was the perfect guy for her. He ran the school newspaper and was a member of several clubs, including the history club that Maddie loved. Justin looked like the male lead in a Jane Austen story. He had strong features, a piercing gaze, and always had a slightly unapproachable aura about him. Despite all this, Justin was an incredibly social, curious, and good-humored guy. He had short black hair and sparkling green eyes. Maddie furrowed her brow and slapped Justin on the shoulder. - For heaven's sake! I almost slapped you across the face! -I noticed!- Justin laughed. - Maddie... I'm freezing. Let's go inside, please! - Ally tried to let her friend know that she was getting very bored outside with her pleading eyes and pouting mouth. And miniskirts weren't the wisest choice for October 31. - I told you to at least wear thick tights.-she scolded her friend. - Maddie! That would have ruined my outfit! - Come on, Maddie! We're going to be late for the party! - Connor said, grabbing Ally's arm and running into the house with a laughing Ally. Maddie looked at the old building and took a deep breath. Something wasn't right inside, but she couldn't tell what it was... Justin squeezed her shoulder encouragingly. - You don't have to if you don't want to. I can walk you home. - Justin said, but you could tell he really wanted to go inside. And she would do anything for her "Prince Charming." Maddie gathered her strength and said, - Let's go after them before they disappear completely! - That's the spirit! Shall we? - Justin asked offering his arm for Maddie with childish excitement. Maddie shook her head and tried to hide her blush with her long brown hair. They entered to the house where immediately stumbled into Ally and Connor. They were looking at a guy, dressed as an old lord. - What's up guys? - Justin asked and Connor snorted. - He is not letting us in until we solve his enigma... We have been trying but couldn't figure it out. - Why are they making us study even during a holiday? - Ally asked sadly and Maddie could tell she was getting very emotional. Ally had learning difficulties and Maddie helped her with her homework and preparing for tests. That's how they became best friends. She released Justin's arm, a bit sadly and rushed to the aid of her friend. - Let's see. - she said gently hugging Ally and read out loud the sign behind the zombie lord. - " I'm a tool possessed by both the rich and poor, young and old. The tool you use the most throughout your whole existence. The most valuable one that can encourage your friends, keep your enemies in check and ensures that no matter what, you remain in control. What am I?" - Justin frowned but Maddie rolled her eyes. She couldn't believe her friends didn't notice the quote from the popular show Hazbin Hotel. Maddie looked at the zombie lord and flashed a gorgeous smile. He laughed and stepped out of his character. - I wouldn't expected any less Miss Thompson! - Ally's jaw dropped hearing their history teacher's voice. - Mr. Anthony?! What the hell? - Careful Ally! An angel shouldn't speak about hell! - Ally covered her mouth and Connor laughed wholeheartedly. - What was the solution? - Justin asked while they entered to the corridors of the mansion. - A smile. - they all stopped and looked at Maddie with their jaws dropped. - Come on! Don't tell me you guys haven't seen Hazbin Hotel... Alastor... - with each word she said Maddie had to accept that she was alone on this ship. - Let's go if we have reached so far! - she said and they started to explore the mansion. As they ventured deeper into the abandoned mansion, the elaborate ornamentation seemed to vibrate with every step they took. It was so vivid and beautiful, even despite the tacky Halloween decorations, that Maddie felt the house was breathing with me. Someone continuously jumped out from the side corridors to scare them. Ally clung to Connor, screaming every time, while he heroically hid his own fear. Justin didn't seem to be affected by the scare, but Maddie saw a few beads of sweat on his forehead that suggested otherwise. She rolled her eyes and continued walking with them until a cold autumn wind blew through a small side corridor. For some supernatural reason, or at least that's what she wanted to believe, when her legs wouldn't move forward. There was no logical explanation for why she wanted to walk down that narrow, unlit corridor into the locked parts of the house. Yet... When it was time to go, she set off down the corridor.