Chapter 1 1
March 23, 20132
“Hey guys, did you hear?” said Tray as he ran up. We were sitting at the end of the lunch table. Tray’s blonde hair was flying everywhere. He was wearing dark jeans and a long black t-shirt. His brown eyes sparkled.
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“What, what is it?” asked Leo.
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Leo had brown hair with blonde spotted highlights. He was wearing jeans and a black t-shirt too. He also had a navy blue jacket on. His blue eyes were searching for an answer on Tray’s face.
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“Listen” he panted, “I heard there’s a hunted mansion over on Cheery Street. That’s like three blocks away.”
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“Cool, we need to go check it out DA” said Leo.
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DA, my nickname, What it stands for, you don’t need to know. I’m writing in my journal right now. I record every house that we search. This mansion is the thirteenth. All four of my friends stared at me.
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“Sure, why not?” I said.
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“Awesome, when do we leave DA?” asked Tray.
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Smiling I said, “Tonight”.
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“Excellent” said Abby.
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Her hazel eyes were sparkling. She had her navy blue hoodie on and her chocolate brown hair pulled back. I laid my journal on the table and said,
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“Okay Tray tell me everything you know”.
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He sat down and took a breath.
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“Okay it’s an old mansion, with three floors. The inside is kind of like a maze with one fireplace in the living room that hasn’t been lit for years. The outside is surrounded with a wooden fence and no lock. The grass is burnt from some kids playing a prank, and one more thing. Anyone who has ever entered that house has never come out.”
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Everyone stared at me while I finished writing the details. I looked up.
“What?” I asked.
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Abby said, “Are we really going to go inside? Can’t we just look at the outside and then go home?”
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“No way! I busted my butt to get this information. We are going in… Right DA?” said Tray.
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“Of course we are” I replied.
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I looked over at April. Her dark blonde hair covered her face. She doesn’t say much. She just sits there and listens.
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“We are going tonight and that’s final” I said.
The bell rang.
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“Meet up at my house at five p.m. okay” I said.
I got up and walked away to my next class.23
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Tray had said there was a fireplace, so there had to be a chimney. We could get April’s fathers rope and scale down into the chimney and come out of the fireplace. That was it. We could do that. The last bell rang. The hallways were filled with kids. Everyone was trying to get out of the prison. I walked home. Abby and April rode the bus, and Leo and Tray rode in cars.
When I got home I did my homework, watched TV, normal stuff like that. I even took a nap. My alarm clock buzzed and begged for attention at 4:30. I turned it off and got ready. I wore a black hoodie, dark jeans, and black tennis shoes. I walked over to my window.
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“DA, where are you going?” asked my little brother Clark.
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He was four and I wasn’t going to yell at him. I wasn’t in that much of a hurry. I walked over to him and got on my knees.
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“No where little brother. Go see what Daddy’s doing okay.”
I hugged him.
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“Okay” he said. HE turned around and ran off.
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I snuck out the window.
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“Okay guys lets go.”31
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“So that’s the plan? Why don’t we just go through the front door?” asked Tray.
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“Because, someone might be living in there and that could be why no one ever comes out. Did you get the rope April?” I said.
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“Yes” she replied.
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“Besides this is more fun” I said.
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Everyone was ready. We opened the fence door and ran to the chimney. I free climbed up the wooden wall and tied the rope around the chimney. Everyone else climbed up and then we dropped the rope down the chimney. Of course I went first. When I got to the bottom of the blacken chimney a tugged on the rope wand looked around. The room was the living room like Tray said. Then April and Abby dropped down.
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“Abby, April go check the hallway” I said.
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The place was a reck. It was all dusty and looked like no one had lived here in years.
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“No one DA” said Abby and April.
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Then Leo and Tray dropped down.
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“Okay, we ready?” I asked.
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“Let’s do this” said Leo. Tray ran around the corner.
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“Tray!” I yelled. I ran after him.
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“Tray?” I said. He was being held.
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“Who are you?” asked an old man. He had his hands on Tray’s shoulders. 46
His face was pale wand his hair was snow white. I walked backwards into the living room. The old man followed and released Tray as soon as he was in the living room. The man sat down on the chair next to the fireplace.
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“I’m very sorry for breaking in. We thought no one lived here” I said.
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“Well it’s too late for you to leave now. You’ll have to wait till morning. I won’t call your parents don’t worry. Just sit down” he said.
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We did. I looked at all of my friends then at the old man.
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“Again I’m really sorry” I said. We have never been busted before.
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“Don’t worry. I’ve had other people here before. Well my name is Mr. Vann. What are your names?”
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“I’m DA and they are Leo, Tray, Abby, and April” I said.
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“Very nice to meet you all. If you don’t care I’d like to tell you a story.”
I looked over at Leo and rolled my eyes.
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“Okay” I said.
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A small smile appeared on his face.
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“Well, long ago there was this very old mansion. An old man lived there. This man appeared to be nice but he was a vial person. He killed anyone that entered his home. But on one knew that because no one ever left. Well he finally past away, but his spirit stayed with the house. The old man still kills anyone who enters his home. One night five kids entered his home and…”
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“Mr. Vann?” I said.
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“Shh…” said Leo.
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Mr. Vann had fallen asleep.60
“Come on lets check the place out” Tray whispered.
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We got up quietly and walked out of the room. We laughed softly. We walked down the hall and up the steps. April stopped.
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“April what’s wrong?” I asked.
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“Nothing” she said and kept walking.
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“Okay listen. Abby and Tray look around this floor. April and Leo come with me to the third floor.”
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“Okay” they said.
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Abby and Tray walked down the hall. April, Leo, and I kept going up.
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“Okay let’s go in here” I said.
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I opened the first door in the dark hallway. Leo walked over to the window.
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“Backyard” he said.
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I looked around. A bed was next to the window. A vanity was across from it. A picture of a girl was on the wall.
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“April, you find anything?” I asked.
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She didn’t answer.
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“April?”
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No answer. I turned around. April wasn’t there.
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“Leo, where’s April?”
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He looked at me. We ran out the room and looked down the hall.
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“April?!” I called.
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No answer. We ran down the hall, opening all the doors.
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“DA, you might want to see this” said Leo.
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He was standing in the doorway of the last door.
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“What is it?”
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I looked. I put my hand over my mouth. I walked into the room. The walls were covered with pictures, pictures of people dying. I looked at the last picture. It was of April.
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“How?” I asked talking to myself. Then we heard a scream.
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“Abby!” cried Leo. We ran down the stairs.
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“Abby what’s wrong?” I asked.
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Abby and Tray were sitting on the ground looking into a closet. Their eyes were struck with fear. Abby pointed at the closet. I walked over and looked. It was April, with a lasso around her neck and blood dripping on the floor.
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“Come on” I said. I helped Abby up.
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“Let’s go” I said.
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We ran down the stairs and into the living room.
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“Mr. Vann” I said.
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“He wasn’t there.
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“Where is he?” I panicked.
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“D…DA… look” Tray sputtered.
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He was pointing at the mantle above the fireplace. A picture of Mr. Vann was there. Below it, it said: Mr. Vann 1819-1923.
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“DA, 1923 was 90 years ago” said Tray.
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“I, I know. That story he was telling us. I think that was…”
Tray screamed.
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“Tray!”
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When I turned around I saw his feet being dragged around the corner. I ran after him while Leo and Abby were huddled together. I tried to grab Tray’s feet, but he was gone.
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“We need to get out of here” I said.
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I ran over to the chimney and reached for the rope.
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“The rope has been cut” I said.
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I ran to the front door. Locked. I ran over to the windows. Locked.
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“Come on” I said.
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They followed me up the stairs and into the room where all the pictures were. Tray’s picture was up there now. I shut the door and locked it.
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“Okay think” I said to myself.
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There was a small window in the room. I took my journal and busted it. But as soon as I did the glass formed fused back together. I turned to my two friends. They were scared to death and sweat glistened on their foreheads. Tears were pouring from Abby’s eyes.
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“I’m going out. We need weapons” I said.
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“No DA let me” said Leo.
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“Leo no. I brought you here. I’ll do it.”
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I started walking to the door. He grabbed me.
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“DA please.”
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He stared at me.
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“Please” he said again.
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“Fine okay. Look for a pipe or something okay” I said.
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“Okay.”
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His voice was shaking as he said it.
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“Good luck.”
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He looked at Abby then back at me. I held his glance and then he walked out the door.
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“Abby listen to me. If he doesn’t come back I want you to jump through that window.”
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“No. No DA. I’m not leaving Leo.”
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“Abby!”
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“DA! You don’t get it. I’m not leaving without him.”
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Then we heard fingernails run down the door. I looked at the wall. Leo’s picture was up there now.
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“Your sick!” I screamed.
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“Leo!” Abby cried.
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“Abby no wait!”
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She ran out the room. I fell to my knees felling the pain shoot up my body. Then her picture was on the wall.
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“It’s too late for me” I said softly, “Goodbye everyone. I’m sorry.”
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I busted the window and through my journal out before the glass repaired itself. 130
Chapter 2131
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“That’s all it says.”133
“Wow that’s scary.”134
I stared into his chocolate brown eyes.135
“Oh come on Cal. its history; not scary” I said.136
“Still it’s scary history” he said.137
“Well you still want to go in?” I asked.138
He stared at me and I blushed.139
“Are you crazy Emily?”140
“Oh come on Cal. This was written over forty- five years ago. You really think this can still happen?”141
“Of course I do Emily. You know how I am.”142
I kissed him.143
“Yeah I know how you are. So I’ll protect you from the big bad Mr. Vann” I giggled.144
We were standing in front of the old mansion. I had the journal of DA in my arms. 145
“Please Cal. Please, please, please…” I begged.146
“How did you even get that journal?” 147
“Well DA’s brother found it and he gave it to me” I smiled.148
“Oh, so you’re related to DA? That explains so much” he laughed.149
“Oh stop it. Will you come with me or not?”150
“Okay okay I’ll go with you. But the first weird thing that happens we’re leaving. I couldn’t stand it if you got hurt.”151
“Okay.” I kissed him again.152
I grabbed his hand and we opened the gate. There was no grass on the other side of the fence.153
“Scared yet?” I teased.154
“Yeah yeah” he said.155
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We walked up the steps and I opened the door. It creaked as it opened. I looked back at him for reassurance. He gave me that look that told me everything will be okay. I smiled and took a step in.157
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“Hello?” I called.159
Cal walked in behind me.160
“Leave the door open okay” he said.161
“Okay.”162
I clung to his arm.163
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“Are you scared?” he taunted.165
“Yeah yeah” I copied.166
We walked into the living room.167
“It’s just like DA described. Look.”168
I pointed at the mantle.169
“Mr. Vann 1819-1923” he read.170
The front door slammed shut. I looked up at him.171
“It’s just the wind. Come on, I’ll show you.”172
We walked over to the door and he opened it.173
“See.”174
Then it slammed again and the lock turned.175
“Cal.”176
He grabbed the door handle, but the door didn’t budge. 177
“Cal” I said again.178
“Shh, shh. It’ll be okay” he said. 179
I grabbed his hand and buried my face in his shoulder. Then a hand rested on my shoulder.180
“Who are you?”181
We turned around.182
“Mr. Vann?” I asked.183
“You know my name deary, but what’s yours?”184
I looked up at Cal then back at Mr. Vann.185
“I’m E and this is C. Please forgive us. We didn’t know anyone lived here” I said.186
“That’s okay deary. No harm done” he smiled.187
We took a step away from Mr. Vann.188
“Come now children. It’s too late for you to leave. Come have a seat and I’ll tell you a story about these to kids.” 189
Mr. Vann started walking. I looked at Cal. He was staring at the staircase. I followed his glance and saw metal pipes lying at the foot of the stairs. 190
“Third floor right?” he whispered.191
“Uh-huh.”192
We took slow steps into the living room.193
“When I say go, run and pick up one of those metal pipes. Then run up to that picture room. I’ll be right behind you okay” he whispered.194
“Okay” I whispered back. 195
We were a step away from the living room, where the old man waited for us.196
“Go!” Cal cried.197
I ran. As fast as I could go. I picked up one of the pipes and took the first step up the stairs in one swift movement.198
“You can run, but you can’t hide from me!” yelled Mr. Vann.199
Tears ran down my face but I didn’t stop climbing. Then I ran down the third floor hall and opened the door to the picture room. Cal was right behind me and closed the door then locked it. He sat against the door. We were both breathing hard and I stopped crying. I fell down beside him and buried my face in his chest.200
“I’m sorry Cal I’m sorry” I said over and over.201
“Shh, it’s okay Emily. It’s okay.”202
He put his arm around me. I looked at the wall. Under the last picture it said: DA. 203
Call stood up. He walked over to the window.204
“In the journal. She said she broke the window, but it fixed itself right?” 205
He looked at the pipe in his hand. Then busted the window. He counted softly. Then the window fused back together.206
“It takes five seconds for the window to repair itself” he said.207
“So? What does that matter?” I asked.208
Then we heard fingernails run down the door.209
“Cal.” I ran to him.210
The door started to rattle.211
“Emily listen. I’m going to bust the window and I want you to jump. You will get hurt, but you will get out.”212
“No Cal. I’m not leaving you.”213
He grabbed my shoulders.214
“Emily I’ll be okay. I can fight. But you can’t. I can’t assure your safety if I’m fighting for you and me. Emily please. I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to you.”215
A tear fell off his face.216
“Emily please.”217
The door was shaking harder. It would open in a matter of minutes.218
“Emily please. I love you Emily, please.”219
“Okay, but I’m coming back for you. I’ll go get help okay.”220
I wiped the tears from his eyes.221
“I’ll be waiting for you” he said.222
He busted the window at the same time the door flung open. Cal pushed me out the window and I landed in a bush. My arm was twisted and my head was bleeding, but I got up and ran to the fence. I looked back at the window. It was repaired. Everything was normal, like nothing was happening. But Cal was inside waiting for me to return. I ran to the nearest police station. 223
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“Officer! Officer! Help!” I yelled. 225
I was crying, hurt, and torn up.226
“Emily, Emily calm down.”227
It was Officer Clark.228
“What’s wrong Emily?” he asked.229
“Cal, he needs help. The old mansion. Mr. Vann. Help!” I cried.230
Officer Clark got on his knees.231
“Emily, did you go in that house?”232
I shook my head.233
“How did you get out?”234
“Cal. He busted a window and pushed me out before it repaired itself. Then I came here. Please Officer Clark, we have to help him. Please.”235
“Okay Emily, calm down.”236
He pressed the button on the side of his radio. 237
“I need as many free bodied officers at the Cheery Street mansion now” he said.238
“Come on Emily. Get in the car.”239
I ran out the door and into Officer Clark’s police car. He got in and started the siren. The blue and red lights started blinking and people moved out of the way as we drove by. The mansion came into view with officers all around. We stopped and Officer Clark explained to the others what was happening.240
“Officer Clark we can’t wait anymore” I said.241
“Emily don’t worry. We’ll go inside just as soon as the sheriff gets here.”242
“There’s no time to wait!”243
I grabbed his gun from its holder and ran.244
“Emily wait!”245
I ran through the front door. 246
“Emily!” cried Cal.247
“I’m coming Cal! Hold on!”248
I ran up the stairs, down the third floor hallway, and swung open the door to the picture room. Cal laid against the window. His eyes were closed and his head was bleeding. He was breathing hard and he barely had a grip on the metal pipe lying next to him. There was a black showdown hovering over him. It swirled around Cal. There was a knife at the edge of the shadow like it was holding it.249
“Cal!” I screamed.250
I started shooting at the shadow. It screeched with a high pitched tone that hurt my ears then blew past me in pain. I ran over to Cal. Tears started to form but I held them back.251
“Cal! Cal! Say something. I’m back see? Cal please say something.”252
He didn’t move. Then slowly he turned his head. His eyes barely opened.253
“Help” he whispered, almost coughing.254
I sat down beside him. I moved him just a little so that his head was lying in my lap and his body was laying flat on the floor. I stroked his bloody hair.255
“Don’t worry my love. The officers are outside. They’ll come get us” I said.256
My eyes stayed on the door and the gun laid by my side. I saw DA’s journal lying in the corner. It was untouched. A few moments later flashlights flooded the room. 257
“Emily!”258
“Help us Officer Clark” I said.259
“Emily it’s okay. Everyone knows who you are now. You don’t have to call me that anymore” he said as he gently picked up Cal. I looked up at him. Cal moaned in pain.260
“Careful Dad” I said.261
He smiled a little. 262
“Come on Emily. Let’s get you and Cal to the hospital.”263
Another officer helped me up. I grabbed the journal before the officer helped me down the stairs and to my father’s police car. I sat in the back with Cal’s head lying in my lap. Blood was all over his and my clothes. His head was still bleeding when my dad started driving. 264
“Emily. I think DA would be very proud of you” my dad said.265
I smiled a little and looked down at Cal. I wiped the blood from his eyes. He was asleep. Then the car stopped. The officers took Cal out first. Then I followed. We went into the hospital. I wasn’t as bad as Cal was. They wrapped up my head and bandaged my wrist. Then they cleaned the blood off my face and let me wait in the waiting room.266
Cal was taken to a part of the hospital where I couldn’t go. My leg bounced and my fingers tapped against the chair. I looked out of the window. It was dark and there weren’t a lot of people in the hospital. Then a man walked up to me.267
“Are you Emily?” he asked.268
“Yes. I am.”269
“You know you’re the first person to ever make it out of the mansion?” 270
“Yeah I do.”271
“I’m with the local newspaper. Can I ask you a few questions?”272
I looked down the hallway and saw a nurse coming. I stood up.273
“No. I’m sorry. No questions.”274
I walked over to the nurse.275
“How’s Cal? Can I go see him?”276
“You can take him home now if you like” she smiled. 277
Then the doors behind her opened. I started crying.278
“Cal!”279
He was in a wheelchair. He had a bandaged around his head and a cast on his leg. He had stitches in his arm running down to his wrist. I ran to him and wrapped my arms around him. He pulled me off weakly and held my hands. Then he ran his fingers down my face.280
“You came back” he whispered. 281
“Of course I did.”282
“Why? You could have left me there.”283
I leaned over and kissed him.284
“I love you Cal and I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to you.”285
A tear ran down his face.286
“Emily.”287
I wrapped my arms around his neck.288
“I will never leave you” I whispered.289
A week later Cal and I walked back to the old mansion with everyone else in the town. My dad: Officer Clark: DA’s brother lit the mansion of fire. We watched it as it burned to the ground. We all could hear an unearthly scream as it burned. Cal laughed.290
“What?” I asked.291
He looked down at me with a twinkle in his eyes.292
“Say goodbye to Mr. Vann.”293
I started laughing too. Cal looked back at the jumping flames as they climbed higher. I stopped laughing and said,294
“Goodbye DA.”295
Cal smiled.296
“Goodbye” he repeated.297
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Comments
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That was pretty good...
That was pretty good Ali.....i liked it
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