The Mansion

Jenna runs up the front-porch steps of a grand mansion and stops next to the three people who are already there.

"What's up?" She asks.

"Don't know." Micheal answers grimly.

"What do you mean?"

"Our dearly beloved friend does not want to come out of this mansion, and whenever we go in, strange things happen." Carla answers.

"Oh, please. We are all going even if we have to drag our friend with us." Jenna walks to the front door.

"First read the sign before you enter." Ned smiles slyly.

Jenna looks up and spots the words written in a messy font: Enter at own risk. I cannot take any responsibility as to what may happen when you do. P.S. I AM NOT GOING TO THAT STUPID PICNIC!!!!

Jenna turns and snorts at her friends.

"Fine, we can go in there again, but this is the fourth and final time that I do." Micheal says grumpily.

Everyone nods in agreement and Jenna opens the double door. The door creaks open and lights up the dark interior. The group enters and the door immediately shuts behind them. Jenna wants to start walking, but someone holds her back.

"If you wait a moment, then the light are going to turn on." Ned whispers.

The lights suddenly turn on, but they are very dim.

"Now, we proceed." Ned declares.

Slowly, the group walks forward. Silently, a pair of eyes watch their every move. Micheal grabs Jenna by the arm and the whole group comes to a stop.

"This is where we decide to either go back or continue."

"Micheal! We are going to continue. I mean, why not?"

Chuckling softly in the secret passage, you walk over to the first two levers that were made to get rid of Clara. You glance from the poison ivy mixture to the one that is your own secret formula but also has a label that reads: DO NOT USE ON FRIENDS. Debating for a few seconds, you make up your mind and pulls the corresponding lever.

"What is that smell?" Jenna glances around worriedly.

"I don't know, but it is probably the doing of our "dear" friend." Micheal says sarcastically.

"I can't take this! My lungs are protesting to this smell, and I feel itchy and nauseous!" Carla turns around and runs out of the masion. "I will wait outside!"

"Now, things are only going to get worse." Ned comments nonchalantly.

The group covers their mouths and noses with their handkerchiefs before continuing. Carefully, they climb up the creaky stairs.

After running through the secret passageway and up the narrow steps, you gasp for breath and settle into the chair in front of the computer screen just as the group appears into view of the hidden camera. Smiling very evilly, you hold your hand over the two buttons on the keyboard. "Time to lose Micheal." You say softly. Now to choose between the two options: S for the snakes or R for rats. Lifting a finger and pressing the button quickly, you wait in silence.

"I hear something." Micheal stops.

"Your imagination." Ned smiles at him.

Micheal frowns at him and listens closely. Out of the dark, small critters come racing out and Micheal's eyes grow wide. Without thinking twice, he turns and also runs out of the mansion leaving the other two standing there while the creatures just go past them.

"Well, now we are alone. Why don't we leave too?" Ned asks calmly.

"No! I have planned our outing for so long, and I am not going to just let it go down the drain!" Jenna objects.

Determinedly, she walks over to the stairs and starts ascending them. Ned sighs and looks at the wall before following her.

"Now, what can we use to scare Jenna with?" You ask yourself as you run up another flight of narrow stairs. Coming up too fast, you and your chair glide over the floor and hit the wall. Checking the cameras to see whether the noise have escaped into the hallway, you come to the conclusion that it didn't since the two are still walking. Dragging the chair back to its place and sitting down, your heart race. This is partly because of the running, and partly because of the fear that they might reach the study and find one of the entrances to the passage. You focus on the two choices that you have left to use: the spooky figure with the eerie music, or the spooky sounds that include footsteps, howling wind and screams, or perhaps both? Sighing happily, you decide and watch to see what would happen.

"I think that we should go. We are the only two left after all."

"Stop it, Ned! I said we are going on that picnic."

"Okay, chill." Ned hangs back a bit.

"What is that!?"

"What do you mean, Jen? What is bothering you?"

"This place is getting spookier and spookier by the minute."

"We warned you."

Something causes Jenna to turn around.

"You know what? We will just leave and go to that picnic on our own." Jenna walks off, but continues to quicken her pace until she is out of the front door.

Ned smiles at the sound of the double doors slamming shut before turning to face the one wall.

"Thanks for getting me out of this mess." He says as you exit the secret passage and walks over to him.

"It was for us both."

"It sure was."