Instead of returning to my apartment, I asked Aunt Amy to take me to the mansion--the one place I swore never to set foot again. Yet, here I was again, standing at its doorway.
I took a deep breath before I went in straight ahead, not bothering to knock. Crossing the entrance to the main hall at a slow but steady pace, I attempted to keep my breathing even though my d*mn heart wasn't cooperating as it was beating erratically. But, my feet never faltered even though cold sweats started to break out on my forehead. I repeatedly uttered in my mind that mantra 'I can do this'.
The silence pervading the entire mansion and my concentration not to crumble was disrupted by a loud shattering noise upstairs. Instantly my fears fled away as I dashed upstairs, following that god-awful sound and hop
